O Minister of Citizen Protection, Yiannis Oikonomougave an interview to the radio station “Parapolitika FM” where, among other things, he mentioned the traffic issue and the continuous efforts made by the Traffic Police recently with the intensification of controls.

“A very big effort is being made in the last month and a half with a stronger presence of her Traffic officer and this is not arbitrary” noted the minister while adding that, if one looks at the statistics of controls and violations that have taken place recently, one will be led to the obvious conclusion that someone is controlling these violations, someone is cutting the fines.

“So for them to be many times higher than the previous interval, this means that there are more traffic wardens on the road and they are doing more work. Obviously, we need to improve more and strengthen the visible policing everywhere with a staff that is specific, and cannot be multiplied from one moment to the next” stressed Mr. Economou.

He then pointed out that the infrastructures of Athens have long exceeded their specifications, while he emphasized that the role of the Traffic Police is about limiting traffic inconvenience. “Traffic, however, can neither widen nor build roads. Nor can the Traffic Authority suddenly make Kifissos acquire more lanes, change a street architecture that has been built for decades,” he said characteristically.

Regarding the issue of installing cameras, the Minister of Citizen Protection emphasized that it is not something that will be done tomorrow morning, but it is an initiative that has already started in individual axes. As Mr. Economou pointed out, he had a meeting on the matter with its president Personal Data Protection Authority, Mr. Menoudakos while an institutional communication has started between the two sides in order “to ensure that there is no doubt that the cameras we will try to install will be used for other reasons, apart from fighting crime and assisting the work of the Traffic Police”.

In addition, Mr. Economou emphasized that there is open communication with foreign countries, which already implement such technological systems, in order to get the THE GREEK POLICE know-how and information on the specifications needed. He also revealed that funding has already been found from European programs and when the technical specifications are finalized, a tender will be announced.

As the minister underlined, the cameras will be placed in points that will be indicated by ELAS based on statistical analysis, adding that it will be a very useful tool that will significantly change the model of policing in the wider area of ​​Athens. According to Mr. Economou, the project is expected to be completed in about two years.

At the same time, Mr. Economou made special reference to the recent successes of Drug Prosecution as from the beginning of August until the middle of October there have been 2,856 arrests for drugs. “There is a very organized work in the part of the prosecution of drugs in the Greek Police, as in many others. We will soon have other announcements of significant successes involving criminal activities.”

Finally, he referred to the security issues that have arisen due to the war in Israel. “We are doing everything in our power, we have our eyes and ears open, we have increased the measures of visible policing in specific places and guarding targets, we have our information networks open in order to be alert during this time, but not in a panic” the minister initially said, adding: “Our country has a clear foreign policy and position, our approach is very clear. A number of potential targets are kept, including foreign diplomats and places that one might assume would be targeted. I understand everyone’s concern. Greece, the Greek Police, the security services are doing their best to collect information, to monitor things without exaggeration and without panic, with the vigilance that the situation requires.”