The strengthening of the police services of Thessaloniki with 225 police officers returning to combat services, including 75 who will staff the city’s Traffic Directorate, was announced by the Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis, after a meeting he had in Thessaloniki with senior officers and heads Addresses of EL.AS.

At the center of the contacts were everyday issues, such as crime and traffic, but also issues concerning minors, safety in sports venues and the issue of domestic violence.

The purpose of these meetings, as stated in his statements by the Minister of Citizen Protection, is “to bring the Police closer to the citizens again, to create a safe city, for the citizens to feel the Police close to them and our goal is for every citizen to have a feeling security that will lead him to the certainty that his home, his neighborhood, his children, are safe”.

In this context, he announced that in the last few days “we have made great efforts to bring back personnel from various services “on the road”, in the combat services, in the services that are responsible for fighting crime, those that are close to the citizens, in the neighborhoods, in the children playing in the playgrounds, in the squares and in the sports fields”.

Regarding the 75 police officers who will staff the Traffic Department, the Minister of Citizen Protection pointed out the following: “You are well aware of the problem with the Fly Over and the traffic in Thessaloniki. I think that the addition of these Police officers will greatly help to relieve the city and improve traffic on the Ring Road.” He added that the Greek Police certainly cannot absorb this traffic of thousands of vehicles, but he assured that “we will do everything possible to facilitate traffic and the access of drivers – residents to their destinations”.

Creation of a new domestic violence office

Referring to the issue of violence against minors, Mr. Chrysochoidis underlined that it is a new phenomenon that needs a very serious, responsible and sensitive approach. “We have introduced services, we are trying to create a safe environment where many young people gather. We are creating conditions for quick access to our services in the event of incidents,” underlined the Minister of Citizen Protection.

As far as domestic violence is concerned, he announced the creation of yet another EL.AS office, the third in Thessaloniki, where such cases can be reported. “We have created two police stations and we will build a third and at the same time we are significantly improving the infrastructure, the staff through training and the possibility of quick access to the complaint from the side of the citizens” he said, while he encouraged the victims of domestic violence to report to EL.AS . any event that threatens their safety and physical integrity.

To combat sports violence

Mr. Chrysochoidis also referred to the issue of sports violence and the measures the government is taking to make stadiums a true joy and celebration and not a battleground for criminal groups. “This must stop, all parents with our children should be able to enjoy the sports festival in order to add to our lives a better quality of smiles and happiness”, he noted and made the commitment that “we will be close and next to the teams of all sports so that in consultation with them we can combat those phenomena and minorities that discredit sports”.

He also referred to the tragic death of the police officer Giorgos Lyggeridis as well as the unjust death of children, young people, who – as he noted – were at some point either in the stadium area or outside it and became the target of murderous attacks. “These things must end in our country, such phenomena do not honor our society and we will be here to fight them” explained Mr. Chrysochoidis.