The announcements of Minister for Citizen Protection brought the stone of “policemen as private security guards” in rolling. On Tuesday morning a disclosure which sounds unbelieable but is very logical was made by Deputy Chairman of the Greek Police Union of Attica. Nikos Karadimas told VIMA FM that 40 to 45 policemen are assigned to safeguard a former minister, member of a previous Greek government who is currently a simple elected Member of the Parliament.
“We guard the offices of Nea Dimocratia, the home of a current minister, the home of main opposition party leader, we have sent policemen also to guard colleagues of yours [journalists]. Unfortunately there is still a former minister-current MP and other former MPs who were not elected that have policemen to guard them. A rather high number, I’d say. Precisely I’ll talk about the case of a former minister who has 40 to 45* policemen available to guard his home, his office and when he is on the move. “
Karadimas’ claim came a day after Minister for Citizen Protection Nikos Dendias announced that 1,500 policemen will be withdrawn from guarding VIPs and political persons and be transferred to the ‘streets’ to safe guard public security and combat crime.
The Police unionist underlined the need of police patrols on the streets and urged the withdrawal of further policemen from the VIP security.
“If these policemen return to the local police stations and go on street patrols, public security would be more visible than it is today. Crime as we see it on daily basis will be non-existent and we will see a difference even in little crimes.”
Karadimas, also alternate police chief at the police station of Nea Smirni, suburb of south Athens, complained about personnel shortages at local police stations that make it impossible to combat crime.
“There are just 30 policemen assigned at the police station of Nea Smyrni to guard and protect 400,000 residents. If ten policemen are transferred to VIP security, I am left with just twenty policemen for the citizens.”
The issue of transferring policemen to protect politicians, but also private persons and even journalists is as old as the stones. I remember even 10-12 years ago there was criticism about state policemen guarding private persons. Despite relevant government announcements in the past, nothing was changed.
According to ANT1 TV, latest updates on Dendias’ measures report that:
a) Policemen will be withdrawn from safeguarding the external area of the Parliament, while private security companies will be assigned with this duty [taxpayers will come up for these extra costs, I assume]
b) Persons with annual income of more than 100,000 euro they will have to hire private security guards.
c) No state police guards for Members of the Greek Parliament and of European Parliament and district officials.
*Impossible? Very possible, I’d say! 45 policemen : 3 shifts – 15 policemen assigned to guard 3 ‘targets’ (home, office, on the move). That would make 5 policemen per ‘target’ and shift…. Taking into consideration holiday leaves, sick leaves, weekends etc. the number of 2-3 policemen per ‘target’ and shift on 24/7/365 sounds very logical. And this number of policemen would apply to anyone in real or imaginative need of safeguarding on 24/7/365 basis.
