Hellenic Police

The Hellenic Police (Greek: Ελληνική Αστυνομία, Ellinikí Astynomía, abbreviated ΕΛ.ΑΣ.) is the national police service and one of the three security forces of Greece. It is a large agency with responsibilities ranging from road traffic control to counter-terrorism. Police Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios is Chief of the Hellenic Police. He replaced Lazaros Mavropoulos. The Hellenic Police force was established in 1984 under Law 1481/1-10-1984 (Government Gazette 152/A/8-10-1984) as the result of the fusion of the Gendarmerie (Χωροφυλακή, Chorofylakí, 1833-1984) and the Cities Police (Αστυνομία Πόλεων, Astynomía Póleon, 1921-1984) forces.

Hellenic Police Ελληνική Αστυνομία Elliniki Astynomia
Abbreviation	ΕΛΑΣ
Agency overview
Formed	1 November 1984 (1984-11-01)
Preceding agencies	Hellenic Gendarmerie Cities Police Rural Police YPEA
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	Greece
Operations jurisdiction	Greece
Governing body	Government of Greece
Constituting instrument	Law 1481/1-10-1984
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Overseen by	Ministry of Citizen Protection
Headquarters	Athens, Greece
Sworn members	65,000
Agency executives	Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios, Chief of the Hellenic Police Lieutenant General Paschalis Siritoudis, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police Lieutenant General Asterios Mantziokas, Head of Staff of the Hellenic Police
Website
www.astynomia.gr

According to Law 2800/2000, the Hellenic Police is a security organ whose primary aims are:

• Ensuring peace and order as well as citizens' unhindered social development, a mission that includes general policing duties and traffic safety.
• Prevention and suppression of crime as well as protecting the state and its democratic form of government within the framework of the constitutional order, a mission which includes the implementation of public and state security policy.
• Prevent illegal entry and exit of foreigners in and out of Greece and control of compliance with the provisions related to the entry, exit, residence and work of foreigners in the country, a mission that includes the implementation of foreigners and border protection policy duties.

The Hellenic Police is constituted along central and regional lines. The force takes direction from the Minister for Citizen Protection.

Structure

Overview

Attica General Police Directorate (GADA).

The Hellenic Police force is headed in a de jure sense by the Minister for Citizen Protection, however, although the Minister sets the general policy direction of Greece's stance towards law and order as a whole, the Chief of Police is the day-to-day head of the force. Underneath the Chief of Police is the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police whose role is largely advisory, though in the event of the Chief of Police being unable to assume his duties the Deputy Chief will take over as the interim head. Regular meetings are also held with the Council of Planning and Crisis Management who are drawn from the heads of the main divisions of the police force and raise relevant issues with the Chief of Police him/herself. Underneath the Deputy Chief is the Head of Staff , who, in addition to acting as 'Principal' of the Police Academy, heads the Security Branch, the Order Branch, the Border Protection and Immigration Branch, Administrative Support and Human Resources Branch and Technical Support and Informatics Branch. Equal in rank are the General Inspectors of Southern and Northern Greece, who have under their jurisdiction the regional services of both these divisions. The Security and Order Branches are by far the most important, and include the General Policing Division, the Traffic Police Division, the Public Security Division, the State Security Division (an independent division protecting the state and its interests equivalent to the NSA in the US, which replaced the General Directorate of National Security after its abolishment in 1984), and the International Police Cooperation Division.

Regional jurisdiction

Greece is divided into two sectors for policing, both headed by an Inspector General with the rank of Lieutenant General. These sectors both contain several regions, headed by Regional Directors, usually with the rank of Major General or sometimes with the rank of Brigadier General.

Southern Greece (Inspector General: Lt. Gen. Christos Bouloubasis)

• Attica Region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Ioannis Skouras)
• Central Greece region - (Regional Director: Brig. Gen. George Karachalios)
• Peloponnese region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Ilias Axiotopoulos)
• West Greece region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Andreas Tsapikounis)
• Ionian Islands region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. George Vasiliou)
• South Aegean region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Loukas Thanos)
• Crete region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Nikolaos Spyridakis)

Northern Greece (Inspector General: Lt. Gen. George Michalopoulos)

• Thessaloniki region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. George Papadopoulos)
• East Macedonia and Thrace region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Ioannis Karamanlis)
• Central Macedonia region - (Regional Director: Brig. Gen. Spyridon Diogkaris)
• West Macedonia region - (Regional Director: Brig. Gen. Konstantinos Spanoudis)
• Thessaly region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Thomas Karanasios)
• Epirus region - (Regional Director: Brig. Gen. Basileios Mouselimis)
• North Aegean region - (Regional Director: Maj. Gen. Michael Sevdynidis)

Divisions and Services

Greek police helicopter

The Hellenic Police force has several divisions and services under the authority of the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief and the Head of Staff which work in conjunction with regional and other police sectors where necessary. These divisions are usually headed by Major Generals and Brigadier Generals. These are as follows:

Overseen by the Chief of Police:

• Intelligence Management and Analysis Division (ΔΙ.Δ.Α.Π. - Διεύθυνση Διαχείρισης και Ανάλυσης Πληροφοριών - Dieufthinsi Diacheirisis kai Analysis Pliroforion) - (Director: Brig. Gen. Miltiadis Siafis)
• Organized Crime Division (Δ.Α.Ο.Ε. - Διεύθυνση Αντιμετώπισης Οργανωμένου Εγκλήματος - Dieufthinsi Antimetopisis Organomenou Egklimatos) - The newest division of the Hellenic Police, which started operating on October 17th 2024 and has been dubbed the "Greek FBI". Its duty is to combat Organized Crime across the country and is divided into 5 Subdivisions: "Homicide, Extortion and Property Crimes", "Human Trafficking", "Narcotics", "Financial Crimes" and "Organized Athletic Violence". It's headquartered in Athens, but there are also Departments in Thessaloniki and Heraklion, Greece's 2nd and 3rd biggest cities, with the plan being to have a department in every big city countrywide. - (Director: Maj. Gen. Photis Ntouitsis)
• Special Violent Crimes (Counter-Terrorism) Division (Δ.Α.Ε.Ε.Β. - Διεύθυνση Αντιμετώπισης Ειδικών Εγκλημάτων Βίας (Αντιτρομοκρατική Υπηρεσία) - Dieufthinsi Antimetopisis Eidikon Egklimaton Vias (Antitromokratiki Ypiresia)) - (Director: Brig. Gen. Eleutherios Chardalias)
• Cyber Crime Division (ΔΙ.Δ.Η.Ε. - Διεύθυνση Δίωξης Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος - Dieufthinsi Dioxis Ilektronikou Egklimatos) - (Director: Police Dir. Basileios Mpertanos)
• Forensic Investigations Division (Δ.Ε.Ε. - Διεύθυνση Εγκληματολογικών Ερευνών - Dieufthinsi Egklimatologikon Ereunon) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Spyridon Laskos)
• Internal Affairs Division (Δ.Ε.Υ. - Διεύθυνση Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων - Dieufthinsi Esoterikon Hypotheseon) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Panagiotis Poupouzas)
• President Protection Service (Υπηρεσία Προστασίας του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας - Ypiresia Prostasias tou Proedrou tis Dimokratias) - Equivalent of the US Secret Service - (Director: Brig. Gen. Dimitrios Stavropoulos)

Overseen by the Deputy Chief:

Government Officials and other Susceptible Targets Protection General Division (Γενική Διεύθυνση Προστασίας Επισήμων και άλλων Ευπαθών Στόχων - Geniki Dieufthinsi Prostasias Episimon kai allon Eufpathon Stochon) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Protosilaos Kostazos)

• Prime Minister Protection Service (Υπηρεσία Προστασίας Προέδρου της Κυβέρνησης - Ypiresia Prostasias Proedrou tis Kybernisis)
• Parliament Security Service (Υπηρεσία Ασφαλείας της Βουλής - Ypiresia Asfalias tis Boulis)
• Cabinet Members Security Service (Υπηρεσία Ασφαλείας Μελών της Κυβέρνησης - Ypiresia Asfalias Melon tis Kybernisis)
• Foreign Government Officials and other Susceptible Targets Protection Service (Υπηρεσία Προστασίας Αλλοδαπών Αξιωματούχων και Ευπαθών Στόχων - Ypiresia Prostasias Allodapon Axiomatouchon Kai Eufpathon Stochon)

Police Special Forces - (Director: Maj. Gen. Charalampos Kalogiros)

• Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit (E.K.A.M. - Ειδική Κατασταλτική Αντιτρομοκρατική Μονάδα - Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada) - Equivalent of the American SWAT
• Crime Prevention and Suppression Groups (Ο.Π.Κ.Ε. - Ομάδες Πρόληψης και Καταστολής Εγκλήματος - Omades Prolipsis kai Katastolis Egklimatos) - Equivalent of the LAPD's Metro Division's B and C Platoons which are responsible for crime suppression, providing assistance to major crimes investigators and serving warrants among other duties.
• Department of Explosive Devices Disposal (Τ.Ε.Ε.Μ. - Τμήμα Εξουδετέρωσης Εκρηκτικών Μηχανισμών - Tmima Exoudeterosis Ekriktikon Mechanismon)
• Police Dogs/K-9 Units (Ομάδα Αστυνομικών Σκύλων - Omada Astynomikon Skylon)

Hellenic Police Air Service (Υ.Ε.Μ.Ε.Α. - Υπηρεσία Εναερίων Μέσων Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας - Hypiresia Enaerion Meson Hellinikis Astynomias)

Overseen by the Head of Staff:

• Police Academy (Αστυνομική Ακαδημία - Astynomiki Akadimia) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Panagiota Thermogianni)
• Health and Safety Department (Διεύθυνση Υγειονομικού - Dieufthinsi Ygeionomikou) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Athanasios Bathekas)
• Order Branch (Κλάδος Τάξης - Klados Taxis) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Panagiotis Kollintzas)
• Security Branch (Κλάδος Ασφάλειας - Klados Asfalias) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Marinos Stagakis)
• Border Protection and Immigration Control Branch (Κλάδος Προστασίας Συνόρων και Διαχείρισης Μετανάστευσης - Klados Prostasias Synoron kai Diacheirisis Metanasteusis) - (Director: Brig. Gen. Basileios Papakostas)
• Administrative Support and Human Resources Branch (Κλάδος Διοικητικής Υποστήριξης και Ανθρώπινου Δυναμικού - Klados Dioikitikis Ypostirixis kai Anthropinou Dinamikou) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Dimitrios Bakolas)
• Technical Support and Informatics Branch (Κλάδος Τεχνικής Υποστήριξης και Πληροφορικής - Klados Technikis Ypostiriksis kai Plirophorikis) - (Director: Maj. Gen. Sotirios Nikolakopoulos)

Other Specialized Police Units within Department

Men of the Units for the Reinstatement of Order (MAT)

• Groups of Bicycle-mounted Police (motorcycle police) (ΔΙ.ΑΣ. - Ομάδες Δίκυκλης Αστυνόμευσης - Omades Dicyclis Astynomeusis)
• Zeta Group (motorcycle police) (ΖΗΤΑ - Omada Zeta)
• Action Group (motorcycle police) (Ομάδα Δράση - Omada Drasi, former Force of Control Fast Confrontation - Δ.ΕΛ.Τ.Α. - Δύναμη Ελέγχου Ταχείας Αντιμετώπισης - Dynami Elenchou Tachias Antimetopisis)
• Border Guards (Συνοριοφύλακες - Synoriophylakes)
• Traffic Police (also known as Road Traffic Police) (Τροχαία - Trochaia)
• Units for the Reinstatement of (Public) Order (Riot Police, or Police Riot Units) (M.A.T. - Μονάδες Αποκατάστασης Τάξης - Monades Apokatastasis Taxis)
• Airport Police (Αστυνομία Κρατικών Αερολιμένων - Astynomia Kratikon Aerolimenon)
• University Institutions Protection Groups (O.Π.Π.Ι - Ομάδες Προστασίας Πανεπιστημιακών Ιδρυμάτων - Omades Prostasias Panepistimiakon Idrimaton)
• Tourist Police (Τουριστική Αστυνομία - Touristiki Astynomia). With the law 6450/1935, Government Gazette 14/A/13-1-1935, was founded the Tourist Police Directorate (Διεύθυνση Τουριστικής Αστυνομίας) which initially was Directorate of the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) having police officers from Hellenic Gendarmerie and the Cities Police. The Tourist Police Directorate of EOT was abolished by the Mandatory Law 297/1968, Government Gazette 38/A/22-2-1968, replacing by two Tourist Police directorates, one of the Hellenic Gendarmerie Headquarters and one of the Cities Police Headquarters respectively. With the law 1481/1984, Government Gazette 152/A/8-10-1984, the Tourist Police was abolished and its services assigned to the local police stations and units making in-house tourist offices in which were abolished thereafter by the Presidential Decree 508/1989, Government Gazette 216/A/3-10-1989. In 1993 Tourist Police re-founded. With the articles 101 and 105 of the Presidential Decree 7/2017, Government Gazette 14/A/9-2-2017, created the Stations and Units of the Tourist Police at the Hellenic Police Directorates at several prefectures.

Structure within a Regional Police Directorate

Each of the 74 Regional Units of Greece has its own Police Directorate (Γενική Αστυνομική Διεύθυνση), headquartered in the capital city of said Unit. These Directorates are led by Brigadier Generals or Police Directors and are in charge of the patrol as well as the investigation, suppression and prevention of crime in the area.

Under the command of the Directorate, there are at least 2 Divisions: General Policing Division and Public Security Division, each with its own division director, usually with the rank of Police Director or Police Deputy Director.

The main duty of the General Policing Division is patrolling the capital city of the Regional Unit and responding to emergency dispatch calls. Patrol Officers as well as Dispatch Officers, who operate the call center for "100" (Emergency Phone Number in Greece) belong in the "Emergency Action" ("Άμεση Δράση") Department within the Division. All the specialized bicycle-mounted police units such as ΔΙ.ΑΣ., ΖΗΤΑ and Δράση belong in this Department as well.

The General Policing Division also includes the Traffic Police Department(s), the Tourist Police Department(s), the Airport Police Department (wherever that's applicable), as well as the newest "Domestic Violence" and "Community Policing" offices which aim to create safer neighborhoods and offer citizens a better sense of security inside their homes.

Smaller towns and villages which are located outside the city limits of the Regional Unit's capital, are patrolled by the officers of the local Precincts, similar to how Sheriffs' Departments patrol the unincorporated areas in the US. This used to be under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Gendarmerie before its fusion with the Cities Police in 1984.

This does not apply to the 104 Precincts of Attica which are located in the many suburbs of this large metropolitan area and whose duties include a) keeping individuals in custody who were arrested by patrolling units in the area and interrogating them and investigating their cases before handing them off to the DA's office, b) allowing citizens to report local crimes in person as well as investigating and resolving those crimes, c) issuing IDs and weapon-carrying permits. These duties are applicable to every local Precinct in Greece and most of them are delegated to the Public Security Department of the Precinct.

The Public Security Division deals with the detection and suppression of crime and includes Departments of Narcotics, Homicide, Property Crimes, Extortion Crimes, Human Trafficking, Financial Crimes, Organized Athletic Violence, Juvenile Protection, Hate Crimes, Inheritance Rights Protection, Crimes Against the Environment and Crimes Against the National Cultural Heritage. This departmental make-up is very similar to that of the newly founded Division of Organized Crime, aka the "Greek FBI", which has partially replaced the Public Security Divisions of the 3 cities that it is currently operating in (Attica, Thessaloniki and Heraklion). In these cities, there now operate the newly founded Crime Detection and Suppression Divisions (Διεύθυνση Δίωξης και Εξιχνίασης Εγκλημάτων), which share the same departmental make-up as Public Security Divisions, but only detect and suppress non-organized crime.

For example, a small drug deal with no ties to a big cartel, a petty theft or a revenge homicide would be investigated by the Crime Detection and Suppression Division, while a murder committed by a member of the mafia or a big drug deal connected to organized crime families would be given to the Department of Organized Crime of the area.

The Public Security Division (or Crime Detection and Suppression Division wherever that's applicable) also deals with the issuing of IDs, Passports as well as weapon-carrying permits and the registration of citizen-owned weapons.

The Public Security Division mostly consists of Investigators, i.e. Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers (officers with a rank of Lieutenant II or higher) or Deputy Sergeants and Sergeants with Investigative Duties, while Constables, Deputy Sergeants and Sergeants without Investigative Duties who belong in this Division are usually part of the Units of Suppression and Prevention of Crime (Ο.Π.Κ.Ε.), the tactical ops groups which execute operations and arrest warrants for this Division. There are also Ο.Π.Κ.Ε. Units which are tasked with patrolling certain districts, or during certain hours, known for their high crime rates, in order to be instantly available to assist regular patrolling units of the "Emergency Action" ("Άμεση Δράση") Department during a riskier emergency.

If the op or the arrest requires even more specialized forces (either because of the involvement of hostages, the suspicion that there is an explosive device or a weapon of mass destruction at play, the threat of a terrorist attack, or maybe just because the opposition force is overwhelming), members of the other Special Forces, such as the Special Suppressive Anti-Terrorist Unit (Ε.Κ.Α.Μ.), the K9 Unit or the Bomb Squad, may be called in. These forces are also called in during emergencies and crises which regular police personnel can't resolve and operate under the Division of Police Operations, which is under the jurisdiction of the General Police Directorate of the Region (Γενική Περιφερειακή Αστυνομική Διεύθυνση) and NOT the Police Directorate of the Regional Unit. Riot Police Units (ΜΑΤ) also operate under this Division.

Finally, Regional Units which are situated near the borders of the country also have an Immigration Control and Border Protection Division. There is also an Immigration Control Division in Attica and Thessaloniki, due to the large amounts of immigrants as well as the amount of crime attributed to them in those large cities, while the rest of the Police Directorates just have an Immigration Control Office in the Public Security Division.

Each Directorate also has administrative offices such as that of Administrative Support, HR and Education, that of Technical Support and Informatics, that of Internal Affairs and that of Communication and PR, as well as an office of Forensic Investigations, equipped with the necessary laboratories and specialized personnel in order to conduct autopsies as well as collect and analyze crime scene evidence such as biological and biochemical samples, digital data, ballistics evidence, etc.

Personnel

Ranks of the Hellenic Police Force

Ranks and insignia of the Hellenic Police Force

Title	Police Lieutenant General	Police Major General	Police Brigadier General	Police Director	Police Deputy Director	Police Captain I (or Police Major)	Police Captain II	Police Lieutenant I	Police Lieutenant II	Police Warrant Officer (or Police Deputy Lieutenant)	Police Sergeant (Investigative Duty - with promotion exam)	Police Sergeant (Investigative Duty)	Police Sergeant (non-Investigative Duty)	Police Deputy Sergeant (Investigative Duty)	Police Deputy Sergeant (non-Investigative Duty)	Constable
Greek title	Αντιστράτηγος	Υποστράτηγος	Ταξίαρχος	Αστυνομικός Διευθυντής	Αστυνομικός Υποδιευθυντής	Αστυνόμος Α΄	Αστυνόμος Β΄	Υπαστυνόμος Α΄	Υπαστυνόμος B΄	Ανθυπαστυνόμος	Αρχιφύλακας (Ανακριτικός Υπάλληλος - Με εξετάσεις)	Αρχιφύλακας (Ανακριτικός Υπάλληλος)	Αρχιφύλακας (Μη ανακριτικός υπάλληλος)	Υπαρχιφύλακας (Ανακριτικός Υπάλληλος)	Υπαρχιφύλακας (Μη ανακριτικός υπάλληλος)	Αστυφύλακας
Insignia

Hellenic Police ranks and insignia, 1985-1986

Title	Police Lieutenant General	Police Major General	Police Director	Police Deputy Director	Police Captain I (or Police Major)	Police Captain II	Police Lieutenant	Police Warrant Officer	Police Sergeant	Constable
Greek title	Αντιστράτηγος	Υποστράτηγος	Αστυνομικός Διευθυντής	Αστυνομικός Υποδιευθυντής	Αστυνόμος Α΄	Αστυνόμος Β΄	Υπαστυνόμος	Ανθυπαστυνόμος	Αρχιφύλακας	Αστυφύλακας
Insignia

Duties

Police constables are usually assigned on patrol, dispatch, traffic control, guard or desk duty when they first graduate the Police Academy and can become part of riot police or other special police forces (Special Suppressive Anti-Terrorist Units, Groups for the Prevention and Suppression of Crime, K-9 units etc) after at least 5 years of service.

Constables can become Deputy Sergeants after a few years of service and usually have the same duties but with more responsibilities.

Constables and Deputy Sergeants can become Sergeants either after several more years of service (3 chevrons) or through examinations (4 chevrons) if they have completed at least 3 years of service, or at least 2 if they own a Bachelor's Degree. 3-chevron Sergeants can also be promoted to 4-chevron Sergeants through the same examination.

Sergeants are usually squad leaders, watch commanders, shift supervisors, field supervisors on patrol, or have other supervisory roles in certain offices, or within precincts, departments and regional directorates. In other words, they are the equivalent of middle managers with a certain number of Constables under their command. They can also be field trainers at the academy.

Deputy Sergeants and Sergeants "with Investigative Duties" on the other hand are usually assigned on ongoing investigations, but not as lead detectives.

Since there is no "Detective" rank in the Hellenic Police Force, Warrant Officers and Lieutenants are usually the primary investigators on a case, although officers of this rank can also take on duties of platoon leaders or act as senior supervisors of task forces and operations. That said, it's not uncommon to see Warrant Officers and Lieutenants out on patrol as they can also be assigned as field supervisors, or even watch commanders and shift supervisors just like Sergeants, although less often.

Scientists (biologists, chemists, computer scientists, anthropologists etc) and doctors can also join the Hellenic Police Force starting on the rank of Lieutenant I (for Scientists) or Captain II (for Doctors) without going through the entire Undergraduate Program of the Police Academy. They only get a 3-month basic training on the use of weapons as well as the basics of the law and police procedures. These officers usually join the Forensic Investigation Division or the Health and Safety Department (more so the case for Doctors).

Captains II and Captains I (rank equivalent of Major) are usually the Commanding Officers of Precincts, Departments or Certain Units, while Lieutenants I can also take the role of Commanding Officer in smaller departments.

Greece is divided into 13 geographical regions, each having a Regional Police Directorate with a Brigadier General or Major General as the regional director. Each region is then subdivided into several regional units (previously called prefectures), each with their own Police Directorate, led by either a Brigadier General or Police Director (rank equivalent of Colonel).

Within Directorates, there are divisions (Public Security Division, General Policing Division etc) which are usually led by Police Directors or Police Deputy Directors (rank equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel).

Finally, there are only 5 Lieutenant Generals in the Hellenic Police Force: the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police, the Head of Staff of the Hellenic Police and the Inspectors of Northern Greece and Southern Greece.

The Hellenic Police doesn't have ranks of 4- or 5-star generals.

History

19th century

Gendarmes in Chalcis, 1835

Though there was what constituted a police force under the provisional Government of Greece during the Greek War of Independence, the first organized police force in Greece was the Greek Gendarmerie which was established in 1833 after the enthronement of King Otho. It was at that time formally part of the army and under the authority of the Defence Ministry (later the entirety of the organization including the Police Academy was brought under its authority). A city police force was also established but its role remained a secondary one in comparison to the Army's role (mainly dealing with illegal gambling, a severe problem at the time), several foreign advisers (particularly from Bavaria, which emphasized elements of centralization and authoritarianism), were also brought in to provide training and tactical advice to the newly formed Police force. The main task of the police force under the army as a whole during this period was firstly to combat theft but also to contribute to the establishment of a strong executive government.

The army's links to the police and the nature of the structure of the police force and its hierarchy (that of being similar to the army) was maintained throughout the 19th century for a number of reasons. Largely the socio-political unrest that characterized the period including disproportionate poverty, governmental oppression, sporadic rebellions and political instability. As a result of this, as well as the input of the armed forces, the police force remained a largely conservative body throughout the period, there was also a certain amount of politicization during training as the police force were trained in military camps.

20th century

Road traffic policeman of the Cities Police in 1960

In 1906 the Greek police force underwent its first major restructuring at an administrative level. It acquired its own educational and training facilities independent of those of the army (though still remaining titularly part of the armed forces). Despite this the Gendarmerie still maintained a largely military based structured based on its involvement in the Macedonian Struggle, and the Balkan and First World Wars, as a result it tended to neglect civilian matters and was partially unresponsive to the needs of Greek society at the time. However, together with the establishment of a civilian city police force for Athens in 1920 (which would eventually be expanded to the entire country), it set a precedent for further change that came in 1935 because of rapid technological, demographic and economic changes which helped it to become more responsive to civilian policing needs of the time.

However, modernization of the police force was stunted by the successive periods of political instability. The dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas, compounded with both the Second World War and the Greek Civil War led to a retardation of reform throughout the late 1930s and early to mid-1940s. After the war however, British experts were brought in to help reform the police along the lines of the British Police, as a result, after 1946 the police force ceased to be a part of the Defence Ministry, however even then it did not abandon its military features and was still prevalently a military based institution. The Civil war of the period also contributed to excesses on both sides (government forces and the guerillas of the communist led Democratic Army of Greece), torture and abuse of human rights were widespread especially during the early periods of the war when parts of the country where in a state of near lawlessness. Despite this, after the war the police force did reach a respectable level of civilian policing throughout the mid-1960s which was stunted by the rise to power of the Military dictatorship of the Colonels from 1967 to 1974 where it was largely employed as a method of quelling popular discontent along with the Greek Military Police (ΕΣΑ) force of the dictatorship.

After the fall of the Colonels Greece became a Republic and the infamous ΕΣΑ was cleansed of torturers and renamed "Military Police". The organization of regular police forces remained unchanged, up until PASOK's rise to power, which had sought to "democratize" the security forces. Despite strong opposition from both the Gendarmerie and the Cities Police, in 1984 both were merged into a single unified Greek Police Force which maintained elements of a military structure and hierarchy. The new mega-scheme also initially incorporated the Rural Police (Greek: Ελληνική Αγροφυλακή) as community wardens, which was later (1986) turned over to the prefectures, but not the Hellenic Fire Service due to widespread unrest in the Service. The Hellenic Police also undertook the duties of the National Security Service and incorporated joint Gendarmerie-Cities Police services like the Directorate of Forensics.

Because of the long tradition of militaristic elements within the structure of the police even the Council of State of Greece ruled that the police should be regarded as a military body and that members are not civilians but members of the military engaged in a wider role together with the Armed Forces to supplement the Army in defence of the homeland. This has however in recent years been relegated to policing duties such as border patrols and combating illegal immigration and is not reflective of any de facto military duties outside of that of a defensive role in the event of an invasion. Today the Greek Police assist in training various emerging Eastern European and African police forces and Greece has one of the lowest crime rates within the European Union.

Social service

Police station in Nafplio

Since 2012, the Hellenic Police has operated the CyberKid website and an eponymous mobile application, which aims to provide useful information to children using the internet and their parents. In 2013, the Cyber Crime Unit of the Hellenic Police, under the auspices of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, organised a number of conferences to inform kids and parents about the dangers that a child can have while using the internet.

A significant part of the training for all officers is protection and safeguarding of children, and any form of child abuse is faced with a "Zero Tolerance" policy.

Additionally, the Hellenic Police has shown active support to the Children's Smile (Greek: Το Χαμόγελο του Παιδιού) non-profit organization, via a financial donation and the assurance that the agency was, is, and will remain "for life" an active supporter of the organization.

A free of charge digital application called Panic Button, which operates 24 hours a day, was introduced in Attica and Thessaloniki on 27 March 2023. Installed on smartphones, its aim is to allow police to immediately intervene in incidents of domestic violence against women. By pressing a button, it automatically sends a short text message to the police or another special service, and it locates where the user is through the phone's Global Positioning System (GPS). The application can be provided by Hellenic Police departments, the Offices to Manage Domestic Violence in Athens and Thessaloniki, and counseling centers of the network under the General Secretariat of Demographic and Family Policy and Equality of the Sexes at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Attica and Thessaloniki. Currently, only females living in the Region of Attica and the Region of Thessaloniki are eligible for registration.

Current issues

There are several current issues affecting the police in Greece today. Of particular importance is the rise in drug related crimes, sometimes attributed to increased immigration from Albania and other former Eastern Bloc countries. This has particularly affected Athens (and specifically, Omonoia Square), which has become a central point for drug-related activities within Greece.

Illegal immigration is also a problem as Greece remains both a destination and transit point for illegal immigrants, particularly from Albania (and, increasingly, African and Asian countries). There has been an effort in recent years to step up the security procedures along Greece's borders, although some allege the government's approach has been heavy-handed. The issue of the recruitment of immigrants has also been brought up by opposition PASOK MPs in Parliament several times.

Greece is one of the few EU countries where there is a rising crime rate (although it is still very low by EU standards). Some also allege there is a division within the Greek Police force between 'Modern' and 'Traditional' elements; the 'Traditional' element is underpinned by a long history of links with the military, whereas the 'Modern' element is geared towards the police playing a greater social role in society (for example, through drug rehabilitation).

Controversies

Drugs case of Minister of Citizen Protection

During a check on four persons in the area of Amarousiou on 22 November 2021 by motorcycle police unit DIAS officers, in particular the procedure of identity document (ID) checks and body search after having first ordered from them to place out the items who carry with them, they found drugs. Among the persons was reportedly Dimitris Theodorikakos son of Citizen Protection Minister Panagiotis (Takis) Theodorikakos. The revelation made by a retired police brigadier and the newspaper journalist and police editor of Ta Nea and To Vima Vasilis Labropoulos on Mega TV’s Mega Gegonota news on 2 February 2023 where it presents photographs from the drugs and recording of data of four, referring to the Panagiotis Theodorikakos who reportedly had done intervention in order to cover up and manipulate the case file, to destroy incriminating evidences and material, and to avoid arrest and transfer before a prosecutor. Vasilis Labropoulos commented that "Mega TV and other media had not have intention to refer who is the person checked, hence they referred only [they did not name who are] are from the surrounding of mister Theodorikakos. The revelation of person who is his son he is himself revealed the minister [Panagiotis Theodorikakos]".

Panagiotis (Takis) Theodorikakos announced he will file a criminal complaint against the retired police brigadier and Vasilis Labropoulos. Also Dimitris Theodorikakos and former Chief of Hellenic Police Michail Karamalakis announced they will file a criminal complaint against the retired police brigadier.

Police Brutality

According to some organizations Greek police has been accused of overt and, generally unpunished, brutality, in specific cases like after the 2008 Greek riots and during the 2010–2012 Greek protests sparked by the Greek government-debt crisis. Amnesty international has issued a detailed report on police violence in Greece, concerning its practices in patrolling demonstrations, treatment of illegal immigrants, and other, while the Human Rights Watch has criticized the organization concerning its stance against immigrants and allegations of torture of detainees and the Reporters Without Borders have accused the police of deliberately targeting journalists.

Furthermore, it has been accused of allegedly planting evidence on detainees and mistreatment of arrested individuals. A 29-year-old Cypriot man, Avgoustinos Dimitriou, has been awarded €300,000 in damages following his videotaped beating by plainclothed police officers during a 2006 demonstration in Thessaloniki.

In November 2019, Amnesty International made a report regarding the police violence and the use of torture methods. In 2020, 26-year-old Vasilis Maggos from Volos, was found dead one month after his arrest (during an environmental demonstration) and his beating by police officers that caused him serious organ damage. In April 2024 criminal prosecution was brought against six officers of the Magnesia Police Department, among others, on the charge of complicity and serial torture.

In 2021, the Border Violence Monitoring Network published a report into the use of torture and inhuman treatment during pushbacks by Greek police. They assert that:

• 89% of pushbacks carried out by Greek authorities contained one or more forms of violence and abuse that we assert amounts to torture or inhuman treatment
• 52% of pushback groups subjected to torture or inhuman treatment by Greek authorities contained minors

AEK fan 29-year-old Greek Michalis Katsouris was stabbed multiple times and died shortly after in hospital, when in the late hours on 7 August 2023 a group of around 100-120 hooligans supporters of Dinamo Zagreb, reportedly met up with members-accomplices of an affiliated Athens club at a pre-arranged location and together made their way by car and train to AEK’s stadium in Nea Filadelfia, went to Perissos, where fans of AEK were assembled in the broader vicinity. Clashes ensued between the two groups, which threw flares, makeshift explosives, projectiles and rocks, and used makeshift clubs. Hellenic Police have come under criticism for allowing the Dinamo Zagreb fans to assemble near the stadium and not stopping the brawl, intended to prevent the murder that occurred.

A prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation into an incident which occurred on Akadimias Street in Athens on 16 March 2023 during general strike where a police tow truck drove at high speed into dumpsters that were being wheeled into the middle of a street by protestors.

Four police officers were arrested on 11 March 2023, include a higher officer, two lower-ranking policemen and a member of the Special Guard unit were responsible for guarding and transferring detainees, for allegedly beating and torturing a detainee.

On December 5, 2022, in Thessaloniki a 16-year-old Roma youth was fatally shot in the head by a 34-year-old motorcycle police unit DIAS officer involved in a chase after the teenager allegedly filled up his pickup truck at a gas station and left without paying the 20 euro bill triggered days of often violent protests in the Thessaloniki and Athens and other parts of Greece. He had been hospitalized for more than a week but he died on 13 December 2022.

Two motorcycle police unit DIAS officers, aged 24 and 27, were charged with raping a 19-year-old woman in Omonoia Police Station on 12 October 2022.

A disabled woman brutalized by two policemen at the Omonia Police Station on 29 October 2019, Hellenic Police (ELAS) confirmed the violent incident.

A special police guard Epaminondas Korkoneas killed 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on the night of December 6, 2008, following a verbal altercation with the teenager and his friends.

Michalis Kaltezas 15-year-old was fatally shot at the back of his head by the 27-year-old police officer Athanasios Melistas on 17 November 1985 during the annual 17 November protests remembrance day.

Iakovos Koumis (Sorira Ammochostos, 1956 – Athens, 23 November 1980) was a Cypriot law student who was fatally injured to death, along 20-year-old worker Stamatina Kanellopoulou, by the Police Riot Units (M.A.T.) on 16 November 1980 during the annual 17 November protests remembrance day.

Syriza controversy

In 2012, Syriza political party, disagreed with the measures taken by the State authorities and the police against illegal immigration.

At early November 2012, the Minister of Public Order, Nikos Dendias, accused various MPs of the Coalition of Radical Left of "impersonating authority". According to the accusations, on 7th November 2012 the members of the party stopped a number of policemen while they were on duty, in a public protest, in order to check their credentials. Moreover, they took photographs of the plainclothes police officers and uploaded them on the internet site of the party (left.gr). The accusations prompted an angry reply from the party's spokesperson, who replied that they are "dirty accusations".

Allegations of ties with the far Right

In a 1998 interview with the newspaper Eleftherotypia, Minister for Public Order Georgios Romaios (PASOK) alleged the existence of "fascist elements in the Greek police", and vowed to suppress them.

Before the surrender of Androutsopoulos, an article by the newspaper Ta Nea claimed that the neo-Nazi political party Golden Dawn had close relationships with some parts of the Greek police force. Since the 1990s, the Hellenic Police has been condemned for the association of many of its officers with the far right movement, in particular the Golden Dawn party.

The newspaper published then a photograph of a typewritten paragraph with no identifiable insignia as evidence of the secret investigation. In the article, the Minister for Public Order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, responded that he did not recollect such a probe. Chrysochoidis also denied accusations that far right connections within the police force delayed the arrest of Periandros. He said that leftist groups, including the ultra-left anti-state resistance group 17 November, responsible for several murders, had similarly evaded the police for decades. In both cases, he attributed the failures to "stupidity and incompetence" on behalf of the force.

Golden Dawn stated that rumors about the organisation having connections to the Greek police and the government are untrue, and that the police had intervened in Golden Dawn's rallies and had arrested members of the Party several times while the New Democracy party was in power (for example, during a rally in Thessaloniki in June 2006, and at a rally for the anniversary of the Greek genocide, in Athens, also in 2006). Also, on January 2, 2005, anti-fascist and leftist groups invaded Golden Dawn's headquarters in Thessaloniki, under heavy police surveillance. Although riot police units were near the entrance of the building alongside the intruders, they allegedly did not attempt to stop their actions.

The "communicating vessels" between Police and Neo-Nazis re-surfaced on the occasion of riot that broke during protest on march June 28, 2011, when squads of riot police rushed to protect agents provocateurs isolated by the angry crowd, two of them A. Soukaras and A. Koumoutsos both unionists of ETHEL (ΕΘΕΛ) well known for both their extreme opinions, as well as their frequent presence in riots.

In July 2012, it was reported that Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, had placed the alleged ties of Greek Police and Golden Dawn under scrutiny, following reports of the Greek state's continued failure to acknowledge the problem.

According to political analyst Paschos Mandravelis, "A lot of the party's backing comes from the police, young recruits who are a-political and know nothing about the Nazis or Hitler. For them, Golden Dawn supporters are their only allies on the frontline when there are clashes between riot police and leftists.

Following the May 6, 2012 Greek Parliamentary election, in which Golden Dawn entered the Greek parliament, it was said that more than one out of two police officers voted for the party in districts adjacent to Athens' Attica General Police Directorate (GADA) The Hellenic Police falsified those claims, some of their arguments were that "The Hellenic Police falsified those claims, some of their arguments were that "the Special Electoral Lists also included civilians and people who reside in municipalities that are different from the municipalities that are registered in their elector lists, a big number of civilians and of non-civilians include, other categories of civil servants (army, navy, airforce, coast guard, firefighting staff, etc.), while in addition many police officers vote in their local constituencies." and "1048th electoral department of the 7th District of the Municipality of Athens, in which motorcycle police unit DIAS officers / Attica Directorate of Immediate Action exercised their right to vote, golden dawn also gained 11%, ranking third (as in national elections). Finally, in the vast majority of polling stations, in which police officers also voted during the European elections, in various areas (Kaisariani, Ampelokipi, etc.) golden dawn ranked third Since the election, Greek police officers have been implicated in violent incidents between Golden Dawn members and migrants. In September, one police officer was suspended for participating in a Golden Dawn raid against migrant-owned kiosks in an open market at Mesolongi; seven other officers were identified. Anti-fascist demonstrators were allegedly tortured in police custody that same month. In October, Greek police allegedly stood by while Golden Dawn members attacked a theater holding a production of the controversial play Corpus Christi.

Police action for human rights

The Police Action for Human Rights (DADA) union founded, in 2018 in Athens, to protect the rights of LGBT and female police officers. Some of their basic principles are the protection of human rights, the fight against prejudice and discrimination and the equal treatment of all citizens. The union has participated in events, against homophobia and racism in support of human rights, of the Athens Police Officers Association (EASYA) and representatives in the Panhellenic Federation of Police Employees. They have also participated in the pride together with those who belong to the Democratic Union Police Movement (DEKA), of the Athens Police Officers Association (EASYA) and representatives in the Panhellenic Federation of Police Employees (POASY).

Transportation

Skoda Octavia Greek police cars

Water cannon

Police vehicle

Sfakianakis police bus

Honda Transalp 650 is the main motorcycle of the Greek police

The most common police vehicles in Greece are the white with blue stripes Citroën Xsara, Škoda Octavia, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Hyundai i30, Citroën C4, Citroën C4 Picasso, Suzuki SX4, Jeep Liberty, Peugeot 308, Volkswagen Golf, and Nissan Qashqai. Other vehicles that Greek Police has used throughout the years are the following:

• 1984,1985 Mitsubishi Galant
• 1985 Mitsubishi Lancer
• 1985 Daihatsu Charmant
• 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993 Nissan Sunny
• 1991 Renault 19
• 1991, 1993, 1994 Opel Vectra
• 1991 Volvo 460
• 1995 Citroën ZX
• 1995, 1997 Toyota RAV4
• 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 Opel Astra
• 1996 Suzuki Baleno
• 1997, 1998 Nissan Primera
• 1998,2000 Toyota Corolla
• 1998 Citroën Saxo
• 1998, 1999 Citroën Xantia
• 1998, 1999 Nissan Almera
• 1999, 2000 Nissan Terrano II
• 2000 Kia Sportage

The original livery featured white roofs and doors, with the rest of the bodyshell in dark blue. The current livery was first introduced on the Citroën ZX's, although the blue stripe on the earlier models was not reflective, from this became another nickname "stroumfakia"(smurfs) for the Greek police.

Most Greek police vehicles are equipped with a customized Car PC, which offers GPS guidance and is connected directly with the Hellenic "Police On Line" network.

A number of police vehicles are being modified to be equipped with onboard surveillance cameras. A number of portable body-worn cameras will be used by the motorcycle police unit DIAS officers, motorcycle police unit DRASI officers, riot police (MAT) officers, Crime Prevention and Suppression Team (OPKE) officers.

Police equipment

Handguns:

• Beretta M9 (ITA)
• Heckler & Koch USP (GER)
• Smith & Wesson Model 910 (US)
• Ruger GP100 (US)

Submachine guns:

• Heckler & Koch MP5 (GER)
• Uzi (ISR)
• FN P90 (BEL)

Assault rifles:

• FN FAL (BEL)
• AK-47 (RUS)
• AK-74M (RUS)
• M4 carbine (US)

Sniper rifles

• Kefeus (GR)

Police Academy

The Hellenic Police Academy was established in 1994 with the voting of law 2226/1994 through Parliament. It is situated in Athens and is under the jurisdiction of the chief of police. However the Chief of Police can make recommendations and act as an advisor to the Minister (i.e. the Minister of Citizen Protection) on improvements and other such issues (for example structural reform) pertaining to the Academy. The Minister and the Chief of Police make annual speeches at the Academy to prospective Police Officers. The school is made up of university professors, special scientists (for areas such as forensics) and high-ranking police officers who have specialist field experience. Entrance to the academy is based on Panhellenic Examinations (which are university level entrance examinations), passing specific athletic requirements and an interview, though it differs depending on which particular school of the academy the student wishes to join.

The Police Academy includes:

• The School for Police Officers, for high school graduates who wish to become commissioned Police officers (Police Lieutenants II), which lasts four years. Graduates of this school can reach up to the rank of Lieutenant General, the highest rank in the Hellenic Police.
• The School for Police Constables, for high school graduates who wish to become Police Constables (with investigative duties) and lasts 3 years. Graduates of this school can normally only reach the rank of Police Lieutenant I. If they have been promoted to Sergeants through exams, they can reach up to the rank of Captain II, while if they have also graduated from The School for Postgraduate Education and Lifelong Learning, they can even reach the rank of Police Director (Equal to that of Colonel in the Armed Forces).
• The School for Postgraduate Education and Lifelong Learning.
• The National Security School, for high-ranking police personnel (also open to other categories of public servants such as Firemen).

Training

Hellenic Police has a basic requirement of knowledge which is applied to all positions within the agency. These are the protection of the Constitution as well as the tackling of criminal activities and assisting in disaster situations. The emphasis during training on the support and protection of children is such, that a number of highly successful individuals that were raised as orphans, have stated that they couldn't say with certainty that they would make it all the way to the top, without the social service that the Hellenic Police provided to them during their childhood.

Cadets spent their Winter Semesters in classes and field training at the Academy, but during Spring Semesters, they are assigned to different Precincts and Departments where they can apply their knowledge out in the field, so they can be ready for duty once they become sworn Police Officers.

The personnel who are hired as police special guards and border guards (and can later be promoted to police officers after 8 years of service and reach up to the rank of Warrant Officer) receive 3 months of training. Special guards mainly have patrolling duties and they can also be part of riot police and special police forces.

Report complaint

Citizens can contact, either giving their name or anonymously, with the Internal Affairs Service Agency of Law Enforcement Bodies (Υ.Ε.Υ.Σ.Α. - Υπηρεσία Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων Σωμάτων Ασφαλείας - Ypiresia Esoterikon Ypotheseon Somaton Asfalias), which is under the authority of Ministry of Citizen Protection, in order to report complains, anti-social behavior, offences, abuse of power on-duty or off-duty, violence, mistreatment, sexual abuse and various other illegal acts committing by Greek police personnel.

See also

• Europol
• Interpol
• N.I.S. of Greece
• Crime in Greece

External links

• Hellenic Police official website (in Greek and English)
• Hellenic Police official portal (in Greek, English, French, Spanish, and Arabic)