Police officers will replace private security guards at the stations of metro and urban train ISAP in Greece’s capital Athens.
According to an agreement signed between the Transportation Ministry and Greek Police, ELAS will supply 200 police officers whose sole task will be the protection of commuters and public property.
However, police officers will not be inside the wagons as the security guards did, they will operate only at the stations. In addition, they will monitor the security camers, something that the private security guards did not do, as the Transport and Public Order Minister hinted in a joint press conference earlier on Friday.
Minister for Public Order, Nikos Toskas, said that the goal is the protection of public property and commuters’ safety but also for ticket controllers to be able to do their work properly.
Commuters fall often victim to thieves who wander uncontrolled through the metro and train wagons.
Unknown assailants who wear hoods and are attributed to the anti-authoritarian, anarchists scene of the Greek capital are to blame for damages in public property as they smash ticket machines and the ticket barriers. In the recent past they have also attacked ticket controllers.
Replacing the private security guards who are obviously unable to safeguard public transport means that are used by thousands of commuters every day, will help the ministry save 4 million euros per year.
On the other hand, police officers of ELAS will reportedly benefit from the deal as they will be enjoy free transportation. The cost for a monthly card is 30 euros.
Replacing the private security guards was in government plans already a year ago.
The new measure is expected to go into effect beginning of 2018.
