No more immunity and the feeling of not being pursued for some -bad- cops it gives the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the ELAS Headquarters with the modernization and total reform of the disciplinary law of the uniformed personnel of the Greek Police, almost 16 years after the first application of the disciplinary regulation. The goal is “… for ELAS to move into a new modern era of restructuring and reorganization” as emphasized in the relevant announcement, as there are also provisions for the reduction of bureaucracy.

The proposed amendments move along three axes:

  • In the removal from active service of those in uniform who have committed serious criminal and disciplinary offences, and at the same time in dealing more effectively with incidents of corruption in the Body of the Greek People’s Army,
  • In reducing bureaucratic procedures and
  • In the fastest delivery of disciplinary justice.

According to the announcement of the ministry “with the changes proposed, through the reformation and updating of the regulation, P.D. 120/2008 (A’ 182), it is estimated that, among other things, it will put an end to the bureaucracy caused by pointless administrative examinations, while it will adapt to the decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In addition, the penalties are updated so that they are in line with those mandated by the new Criminal Code.”

Indicative:

  • Offenses are added, as disciplinary offences, which are provided for in the new Penal Code and are of particular criminal disrepute.
  • Police officers who are subject to criminal and disciplinary proceedings for particularly serious criminal offenses are compulsorily placed on standby.
  • Police officers who are irrevocably convicted, by a criminal court decision, of felonies and of some particularly serious misdemeanors are automatically dismissed, regardless of the disciplinary hearing of their case.
  • Unnecessary administrative examinations for minor matters such as loss of identification, official driver’s license or off-duty injury are reduced.
  • The time limits are extended for the possibility of repeating the disciplinary trial, in case of a different judgment of substance with the corresponding criminal trial, in order to ensure the imposition of the appropriate disciplinary penalty.

“The said new Presidential Decree is sent to the Council of State, for a preventive legality check” the announcement concludes.