“When we talk about human life then the absolute rule of absolute investigation and absolute application of the law applies” observed the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidistalking about the death of a prisoner in AT of Agios Panteleimon.
In more detail, Mr. Chrysochoidis, speaking on R/S SKAI 100.3, said: “The following must be clear: that when a human life is lost, no one is willing to try to cover it up. For what reason? Quite the contrary. A person is lost, whoever they are, whatever their nationality, whatever their color, whatever their race, it is a human soul, a human life and that is crystal clear. I don’t know what happened. What I know and should do is the following. I asked the Ombudsman, who has a statutory mechanism called Mechanism for Handling Cases of Police Arbitrariness. We legislate about it. I legislated on this during my days in my previous term. I asked them to completely take over this investigation of the incident, without any police involvement with EDE, etc. That there was not the slightest idea, the slightest suspicion of a cover-up. Also, The Athens Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the matterso that there is a criminal examination and a disciplinary examination.”
For incidents of juvenile delinquency
About her problems juvenile delinquency Mr Chrysochoidis mentioned that in the 8th month of 2024 we will have 9 thousand arrests, while last year there were 6,100, that is, it is more than 50% more.
He also emphasized that:There is no outbreak. Many social issues are coming to the surface now that were half buried, such as domestic violence, which is now coming to light through complaints. The number of cases has decreased by around 20-25%. What is very pronounced in our time is the increase in violence. Violence dominates many areas of social life.”
“This year, we have 865 weapons seized from the homes of abusers, legally or illegally, revolvers or hunting rifles, shotguns, while last year in 2023 the corresponding period is only 110, 7 times more” noted the minister and continued saying that “ and in minors we have confiscations of thousands of knives and even strange knives, sophisticated knives, daggers, folding knives, iron fists, unheard of things. This, then, is the new element.”
“Another new element is the gangs. When some delinquent children get together to steal, beat, abuse another child or children. These are phenomena that are new and that is why police activity is increasing.”
At the same time, he stressed that: “The phenomenon is not only complex, is a critical social issuewhich starts with families. A series of very current issues that have to do with the company that children have at home, with the internet, with children’s loneliness and a series of other things. It’s not a class issue. They are small children and for children there is a feeling of impunity. There is no criterion to evaluate an unjust act and there are, unfortunately, habitually delinquent children who start at home. And unfortunately there is a lack of experience of children on the part of parents, of supervision, which ends up leading to the final result. With the new provisions (which we are promoting) the penalties for parents are updated”.
“There are no shoes”
To deal with crime with perpetrators mainly from Gypsy social groupthe minister said: “And this question has two aspects. It has its social dimension, which is not current. It is good to go and see some things, some settlements in West Attica, that do not honor our time, that is, there are things that need to be done there, infrastructures, after consultation with the local communities of these vulnerable groups. On the other hand, there is an issue of crime, delinquency, a very big issue, which we should not tolerate because it is at the expense of the rest of society”.
“There are no unarmed people,” said Chrysochoidis, adding that “the police are also in the settlements every day, they are around the settlements every day. He does a lot of checking.”
Three times more arrests for serious crimes compared to last year
“In the first 8 months of 2024, we established and installed Crime Prevention and Repression Teamsoperating in difficult areas that require much improved police services. So, in West Attica, we have around 250 heavily armed police, who operate 24 hours a day (mainly) in these areas. We had 9,417 arrests for serious crimes, while last year the corresponding number was 2,919, that is, three times more”, noted the Minister of Citizen Protection.
“We have a problem. But we will not solve the problem by launching “anathema” on a specific group, the Roma. We must, on the one hand, take all necessary measures to socially support these people, to force them to send their children to school, to support them financially with benefits. Therefore, the second dimension is the application of the law and here there should not be, but no, tolerance”, he stressed.
For mounting cameras
About cameras which are planned to be placed in central locations, the Minister of Citizen Protection said: “The exact thing is that within a few days it will be officially announced by the government how many and what type of cameras will be installed and especially in Attica, as this is where it is the big problem. Around 1,000 cameras, which will mainly be used to regulate traffic, but at the same time will also record criminal events, wherever and whenever necessary. On the other hand, the Attica Region will have a program of 800 special cameras at traffic lights, at intersections, to confirm red light violations and a series of other KOK violations.”
Source: RES/MPE
