Regional infrastructure modernization projects Police Directorate of Western Macedonia and interventions to strengthen its staff were presented by the Minister of Citizen Protection Takis Theodorikakos in Kozani. “The development and progress of the region and the country is also based on security and the strengthening of infrastructure” he pointed out in his intervention during the presentation of the development program of Western Macedonia, which took place in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“We continue to make Greece stronger”, as “without security there is no freedom, there is no prosperity, democracy does not work”, said the minister, giving public information from EL.AS. which prove a 25% reduction in thefts, burglaries, robberies, etc., in the reduced number of homicides in 2022 and the percentage of investigations that reached 88.61%.

Especially for the Region of Western Macedonia, he noted that one of the lowest crime rates in the country has been achieved, in absolute numbers, and “specifically in 2022 we had zero homicides, while the rates of robberies, thefts, etc., were several times lower than in the territory”. He also mentioned as an example that in the Region of Western Macedonia we had only 2.7 robberies per 100 thousand people, compared to 27 robberies which is the corresponding average in the territory, noting that “these data should be used for the benefit of the effort for development in the region” .

With regard to the projects of modernization of the infrastructure and means of policing in the Region of Western Macedonia, Mr. Theodorikakos he mentioned that:

– From 2019 to 2022, 96 new police officers were transferred to the General Regional Police Directorate and the Police Directorates of the region to strengthen the forces, and soon another 20 will arrive.

– In the Region of Western Macedonia, 1,859 police officers serve and operate in a population of 255,056 inhabitants. Ratio 1 to 137, while the m.o. in the territory it is 1 in 184.

– In 2022, the forces of EL.AS were strengthened. in Florina, Kastoria, Kozani and Grevena with 118 vehicles: passenger, jeep type, prisoner transfer, bus, interrogator, dog carrier, farm type. Commission of more than 3.2 million euros.

– The study and construction of a building to house the Kastoria Police Department has progressed. By April 2023, the issuance of a Certificate of Consolidation is expected and then the relocation of the Services will take place. €7.3 million project.

-The energy upgrade of the building that houses the AT Eordaia was implemented and by 2025, corresponding projects will be completed for the AT Argos Orestikos and Nestorios, and the Border Guard Departments of Korestia and Mesopotamia. Projects worth more than 1 million euros.

-In July, the building of the new Police Directorate of Grevena was completed, a project worth 1.5 million euros.

-From the new academic period, the School of Probationary Constables of Grevena -after 10 years- will once again accept probationary constables, a part of the 850 that will be recruited -through nationwide examinations- to strengthen the ranks of the Greek Police.

The minister made special reference to the role of the Border Patrol in guarding our borders, noting that 260,000 illegal immigrants have been prevented from entering and 1,491 traffickers have been arrested across the country. He added that the effort being made in the region with the implementation of the “SARISA” Plan, i.e. the implementation of operations across the territory to prevent secondary movements of third country nationals and illegal exit from the country, also has a decisive role in dealing with illegal immigration. as more than 22 thousand checks involving almost 70 thousand people were implemented.