Crime in Greece

Crime in Greece is combated by the Greek Police and other agencies. For much of the 20th century, the security forces were criticized for spending their time chasing people with left-wing political views, instead of focusing on actual crime. However, the crime rate in Greece was historically among the lowest in Western Europe, and continues to be.

During the 1980s, Greek Police Chief Nikon Arkoudeas (Νίκων Αρκουδέας) led an intense campaign against organized crime, which saw significant success. Since the early 1990s, many illegal immigrants have come to Greece from Central and Eastern European countries, Asia and the Middle East. Their sudden arrival contributed to an increase in criminal activities throughout the 1990s and 2000s (decade), but the Greek Police also had several victories, breaking up mafia organizations, arresting the 17 November terrorist group, and successfully organizing security for the 2004 Olympic Games.

By location

Athens

Armed robberies in Athens doubled between 2007 and 2009; however, Athens is still among the safest capitals in Europe.^[1] Thefts and break-ins jumped from 26,872 recorded cases in 2007, to 47,607 in 2009.^[2] The number of murders in Athens nearly doubled between 2007 and 2009.^[3] The Greek Police has responded that it often finds its work hindered by NGOs, who tend to interfere with police procedure, advocate small penalties for criminals and spread false rumors of police brutality ^{[citation needed]}.

Crime by type

Organized crime

Organized crime in Greece is on the rise.^[4] The domestic Greek mafia is well-entrenched within Greek society, profiting from widespread local corruption and cooperating with other criminal entities active in the country.

Property crime

As of 2011, Greece has seen an increase in property-related crime, thought to be linked to the worsening of economic conditions.^[5] Robberies, ranging from street muggings to bank hold-ups and house burglaries, totaled about 80,000 in 2009, up from about 50,000 in 2005.^[6] The increase in property crime has seen an increase in the amount of work for private security companies.^[7] Nevertheless, the crime rate is still among the lowest in Western Europe.

Immigrant crime

Official statistics show that immigrants are responsible for about half of the criminal activity in Greece.^[8] The Greek police have admitted that armed gangs entering the country from neighbouring Albania or Bulgaria could have been attracted by reports that many people have been withdrawing cash from banks and stashing it in their homes.^[9] There are possibly more than 1 million illegal immigrants inside Greece as of 2012.^[10][11]

Illegal immigration to Greece has increased rapidly over the past several years. Tough immigration policies in Spain and Italy and agreements with their neighboring African countries to combat illegal immigration have changed the direction of African immigration flows toward Greece. At the same time, flows from Asia and the Middle East — mainly Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh — to Greece appear to have increased as well.^[12]

The evidence now indicates that nearly all illegal immigration to the European Union flows through the country's porous borders. In 2010, 90 percent of all apprehensions for unauthorized entry into the European Union took place in Greece, compared to 75 percent in 2009 and 50 percent in 2008.^[13]

In 2010, 132,524 persons were arrested for "illegal entry or stay" in Greece, a sharp increase from 95,239 in 2006. Nearly half of those arrested (52,469) were immediately deported, the majority of them being Albanians.^[14]

Tax evasion and corruption

Greece suffers from very high levels of tax evasion and political corruption.^[15][16] This is to the extent that tax evasion has been described by Greek politicians as “a national sport” - with up to €30 billion per year going uncollected.^[17]

Extent of Greek tax evasion

The OECD estimated in August 2009 that the size of the Greek black market to be around €65bn (equal to 25% of GDP), resulting each year in €20bn of unpaid taxes.^[18] This is a European record in relative terms, and in comparison almost twice as big as the German black market (estimated to 15% of GDP).^[19]

Several successive Greek governments had in the past attempted to improve the situation. A rapid increase in government revenues through implementing a more effective tax collecting system has been recommended. Implementing the proper reforms, is however estimated to be a slow process, requiring at least two legislative periods before they start to work.^[19]

In the last quarter of 2005, participation in tax evasion reached an estimated 49% of the population,^[16] while in January 2006 it fell to 41.6%.^[16] A study by researchers from the University of Chicago concluded that tax evasion in 2009 by self-employed professionals alone in Greece (accountants, dentists, lawyers, doctors, personal tutors and independent financial advisers) was €28 billion or 31% of the budget deficit that year.^[15]

The Tax Justice Network has said that there are over €20 billion in Swiss bank accounts held by Greeks.^[20] The former Finance Minister of Greece, Evangelos Venizelos, was quoted as saying “Around 15,000 individuals and companies owe the taxman 37 billion euros”.^[21] Additionally, the TJN puts the number of Greek-owned off-shore companies to over 10,000.^[22]

Police politics

One of the major criticisms addressed to the Greek Police by the Greek media is the politicization of its officer corps. Up until 1981 (when Andreas Papandreou and his Panhellenic Socialist Movement party came to power), almost all senior officers of the Greek Gendarmerie and the Cities Police were dyed-in-the-wool conservative right-wingers. These two agencies were merged in 1984 to create the Greek Police.

It is not uncommon for officers to seek the patronage of a political party, and "cliques" have been formed inside the force, sometimes with a regional basis; for example, most Generals usually originate from the Peloponnese or from Crete.

References

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