Takis Theodorikakos: “In an innovative way we support the Greek Police”

An innovative program for Greek policewomen was presented today by the Ministry of Citizen Protection and Google. At the themed event “IamRemarkable”, held at the Officers’ School, 40 women of the Hellenic Police from various Services participated and the aim was to train them in self-promotion skills and to raise awareness about the obstacles faced by female police officers in their workplace. So that they take the necessary initiatives, to increase their role and contribution.

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikakos in his greeting he stated the following:

“The Hellenic Police has 7,900 women in its ranks, who prove to be worthy officers of the Hellenic Police every day. who serve everywhere, they serve throughout the country, in all the ELAS Services, in Immediate Action, DIAS, in AT, in the Offices for Dealing with Domestic Violence, which are offices at the forefront of our action against a modern form of crime which unfortunately after the pandemic it is particularly increasing, in Security, in the Special Violent Crimes Directorate, in the country’s entrances and exits, in the Aliens Directorate, in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service, in the Air Media, in the Aircraft Service, in the Traffic and of course in the Police Academy.

The women of EL.AS. it’s everywhere! On the front line, but also in important staff positions and they are there with their sword because they deserve it. Their role is crucial in carrying out the mission of the Hellenic Police, it is crucial in the relationship of the Hellenic Police with society and certainly it is decisive in the very development of the Hellenic Police.

Nevertheless, I believe that we all have a lot of things to do together, women and men in the Greek Police and in the Ministry of Citizen Protection, to facilitate the even more upgraded contribution of women to the Greek Police and the promotion of their work because there are certainly problems and obstacles to overcome. That’s why I think it’s extremely important that Google’s initiative to raise awareness of the difficulties that female police officers face, both in their workplace, but not only in the workplace, as I think there are strong stereotypes in society. After all, the stereotypes that exist within the Police are tangential and related to the stereotypes of society, because the Greek Police is also a part of Greek society, it could not be otherwise.

I believe you must speak openly about your achievements, about your work and your contribution, so that every female police officer, every female member of the Greek Police, can respond to an extremely complex role, the role of a police officer, a colleague for police officers who is next to her, her partner, daughter, wife, mother, obviously many women of the Greek Police are already mothers. The greatest tasks there are on this earth. So many and so important. We want the Greek women who serve in the Hellenic Police Force to feel proud, I want you to feel proud as we feel proud of you.

We want the women of EL.AS. to be the ambassadors of the Greek Police, to be our reputation so that more and more young girls, I see enough here today among us but much more young girls choose in their lives in the career in the service of the Citizen, in the service of the Security of the Greek people and our country.

This is a life with meaning and substance, it is a life with rewarding values ​​and perspectives in a modern Body, which recognizes and highlights the contribution of women, helps their development and advancement because it is remarkable. To be precise, the women of the Greek Police are admirable. I especially want to address those of you who are here today. I ask that you convey the words that will follow in all these procedures that you will follow to the colleagues in the Greek Police Services that you serve.

I want to say a sincere thank you. We are by your side, I am by your side, as is of course the political leadership of this Ministry and the leadership of the Police. We stand by every police officer and above all we stand by our police officers in difficult times, when we need to be as close as possible to support them in carrying out their extremely important duty. I believe that without security there is no freedom. There can be no prosperity, without security our democracy does not exist, this is the reality and we must all understand this. It is a condition and component of the society we want. For us, but also for the generations that will follow, for our children.

This is why we are all moving forward with a plan by building a modern Police, friendly to the citizen, friendly especially to young people who need to get to know the human face of the Greek Police and absolutely effective against every form of crime, violence and aggression. That’s why we have more police officers in our neighborhoods. That is why the best, most modern and essential training of our police officers is our concern every day, a matter for which today a very important bill to upgrade police training as a whole is being published. Spearheading the transformation of the Officers’ School into a university-level school, on par with the Evelpidon School and the top productive schools of the Armed Forces of the country.

It is an effort that brings results, as we have all succeeded in reducing the low and medium level of crime that concerns the Greek family. Thefts, robberies, burglaries have decreased by 30%, compared to the time before the corona virus pandemic, thanks especially to your own efforts and at the same time we are guarding the borders of our country. We defend the borders of Greece and Europe, the principles and values ​​of our culture.

In all this action women are everywhere. So, once again, ladies of the Greek Police, thank you for your work. We are here for the common mission. For a better society, a better life for all Greek men and women, for a better future. I trust you, we trust you and together we move forward next to every citizen. Responding decisively to all forms of violence, domestic violence, school bullying which has unfortunately returned, fan violence, internet crime which especially threatens young children, organized crime in all its forms.

We take care and protect family peace and social cohesion and continue faithful to our duty and mission, which is nothing other than the safety of citizens and the safety of the homeland.”

On her part, Ms Thomas Glarou-StavropoulouHead of Industry, Travel & Tech at Google and member of the #IamRemarkable initiative said: “Many of us find it difficult to talk about our accomplishments. Cultural and gender stereotypes, as well as the “impostor syndrome”, can prevent someone from recognizing their remarkable characteristics and expressing their achievements. With the I am Remarkable program we are committed to improving the motivation and skills for self-promotion of women and underrepresented groups, thereby changing the societal perception of the importance of self-promotion.”

The event was attended by the Chief of the Greek Police, Lieutenant General Konstantinos Skoumasthe Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Police Headquarters, Lieutenant General Lazaros Mavropoulos, the Commander of the Police Academy, Major General Sofia Lampropoulou, the Commander of the Greek Police Officers’ School, Brigadier General Vasilios Rokkos, the Commander of the National Security School, Brigadier General Panagiotis Kollintzas, the Assistant Commander of the Police of the Academy, Brigadier General Konstantinos Anthoulis, and the Commander of the Post-Training and Training School of the Hellenic Police, Police Director Vasilios Saloukas.

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