The Judicial Police in Hellas. Establishment and perspectives

• In Event: Crime, Science and Politics WG Panel 6: Policy Shifts and Institutional Challenges Across Europe

Abstract

The establishment of the Judicial Police had been a long-standing demand of Judicial and Prosecutorial Officials. Its formation, which was carried out under Law 4963/2022 (Government Gazette A' 149), titled "Establishment of the Judicial Police and Other Urgent Provisions of the Ministry of Justice," is considered one of the most significant reforms. It is expected to accelerate the administration of justice, which in Hellas is widely acknowledged to be slow. Additionally, according to supporters of this reform, its establishment will contribute to more effectively addressing corruption and crime in specific areas requiring investigations by specialized personnel, among other benefits.
In Hellas, there was no independent police force with an autonomous structure like the one that was established, despite a provision in Law 2145/1993 (Government Gazette A' 88), specifically in Article 36, for issuing a Presidential Decree to create a Judicial Police service within the country's Prosecutor’s Offices. However, in practice, the responsibilities of such a service were performed—alongside their administrative duties—by existing law enforcement agencies, such as the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Fire Service, the Municipal Police, and other services whose personnel were assigned investigative duties by the state.
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the challenges that arose regarding the establishment of the Judicial Police, as well as the reasons for its formation, based on the explanatory report of the aforementioned law.

Author

• TRYFON KORONTZIS, Hellenic Open University