“The metro is now a reality and our priority and duty is, among others, the safety of the metro”emphasized the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidisin his statements from the Thessaloniki metro station, in Pylaia.

“The metro is an emblematic infrastructure project to serve the thousands of our fellow citizens in the urban complex of Thessaloniki. I hope, very soon, that the people of Thessaloniki will be able to use the rest of the part, which is currently under construction”noted the minister.

Mr. Chrysochoidis referred to the contribution of his own portfolio, in the context of the exercise of government policy, during the construction of the project, but also to the next moves of the ministry for the safety of the metro, underlining that it is “priority” and “duty” and added:

“The company that manages the Thessaloniki metro has some private security, but immediately after the start of the metro operation, it was decided by the Ministry of Citizen Protection to install police officers immediately, who have taken over the guarding of the metro – mobile or stationary, with based on a comprehensive plan, which has been drawn up by the Thessaloniki Police Department and which is currently being implemented with 35 police officers, who are on the lines and at the stations on a daily basis, that is, the operating hours of the metro”.

The minister clarified that these 35 police officers stationed in the subway, led by police officers, have been implementing the security plan since the project began operation, but will soon be replaced by a larger and permanently stationed police force.

“This solution, this option is temporary. It is very soon, in the next few days, yes hire 65 new police officerswho after their training will be placed in the Thessaloniki metro, as a permanent force, to fully ensure the safety of the metro from petty crime phenomena, but also the bigger security issues” said Mr. Chrysochoidis and continued:

“Measures must always be taken, in order to ensure that the metro will be absolutely safe for the life, property of our citizens, the property of the metro infrastructure, but at the same time the overall protection of the property of our fellow citizens.”

“The work of the Thessaloniki police is wonderful”

Mr. Chrysochoidis also mentioned that the police of Thessaloniki are doing a wonderful job this year, with “great results”, which the society of the city and the wider region are receiving, and he gave information on dealing with crime charges. As he said, the police of Thessaloniki have be reinforced with 600 police officerswith secondments from neighboring departments and with permanent transfers, forming a “unprecedented for Thessaloniki” in number of police forcewhich is utilized in the crime prevention and suppression units, with daily patrols, while the new crime prosecution and detection service, which came from the old security directorate and was formed a few days ago, also contributes to the work of citizens’ security.

“Last year, crime prevention and suppression teams made 1,499-1,500 arrests. This year, so far, ten days before the end of the year, they have made 2,439, almost double. This number concerns OPKE. The total number of arrests in 2024 is 10,532, with a very high degree of investigation and full investigation of serious cases.” emphasized the minister.

Mr. Chrysochoidis added that two months ago the organized crime branch was established in Thessaloniki and is responsible for the whole of Northern Greece, with over two hundred people, which deals with drug cases, major thefts and robberies, homicides, extortions, by organized criminal groups, as well as with financial crime. Note that the forces of will contribute to safety of citizens and on citiesbut also at the border, at the borders, where controls must be “more flexible”, but at the same time “more effective”.

“All this, from elite officers and policemen, who make up the new service. I consider it an added value to the security of Thessaloniki and Northern Greece”, said Mr. Chrysochoidis, who also praised the work of the internal affairs department, especially for its recent successes with the big operation in Halkidiki, “with more than two dozen arrests, in order to deal with issues of corruption, related to urban planning”.

He also gave data on various categories of crimes in Thessaloniki, making this year’s assessment of the overall action of the police and – among other things – stated: “In 2024, we had a reduction in 13 crime indicators, out of 18, that is, fraud, rape, theft, burglary, robbery, etc. which means that there has been a great productivity and efficiency of the services. There was also a 43% increase in drug cases – this is very pleasing, in the sense that such cases are being solved.”

The minister also referred to the reduction in group violence, underlining that this is due to the new law, which provides for the identification of those entering the stadiums through mobile phones, the cameras inside the sports grounds and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which examines all complaints based on the law, and added: “We have, I think, for the first time in years, sporting events, without incidents, without problems, without crime. The teams of either the first or the second national team cooperate because it is in their interest. I consider this a conquest, an acquisition, which we must keep.”

Mr. Chrysochoidis also referred to the reinforcement of traffic by the movement of 100 police officers to it and due to the problems in the traffic of vehicles, due to the fly over projects, with the provision of the intervention of auxiliaries and police officers from other police forces, under the responsibility of the police director, ” at critical times, the city moves as fast as possible.”

Domestic violence is a serious crime and punishable

The minister also referred to social policing, domestic violence issues. “In Thessaloniki, we have seen a 36% increase in reported incidents and a 64% increase in arrests compared to last year. In 2024, arrests of perpetrators were made in 54% of cases, while in 2023 they had been made in 45%. And 70% of those cases were handled by the three domestic violence offices based in the city and complex. And, also, in the last five months, 547 panic buttons were installed, activated 113 times, with an average response and arrival at the scene of the problem in 7.8 minutes.”

Mr. Chrysochoidis also said that law enforcement authorities, drawing on experience, constantly improving protocols and times, will become even better at dealing with these crimes, “so that the police can save human lives, every day, every night, every month , every year”. He noted, at the same time, that this year, nationwide, the arrests have more than doubled, from the 5,990 that were made last year, for this particular crime.

“This year,” added the Minister of Citizen Protection, “We have completed, nationwide, out of 20,000 incidents, 13,000 arrests. It’s a tragic number, on the one hand, this magnitude, that these really terrible things are happening in people’s homes. But on the other hand, it is so hopeful and so comforting that mouths are being spoken, women are calling the police, perpetrators are being arrested, many are in jail, some are out on probation, so that everyone realizes that this crime is very serious, it is a crime and it is punishable.”

Mr. Chrysochoidis also gave information about the juvenile violence and the new phenomena, with gangs and the carrying of weapons by minors, to deal with which various provisions have been introduced and the penalties of those exercising their vigilance have been tightened and he continued: “Cases involving minors increased by 15% compared to last year and the most offenses involved physical harm, i.e. assaults on other children, theft, drugs and various other offences”.