At the same time, the minister noted that within the week he will visit Crete again, from where he will announce the important changes that have been decided regarding the tightening of weapons legislation, the strengthening and restructuring of the police services on the island and all the decisions that have been taken after the bloodshed in Vorizia to deal with crime, disarmament, and the criminalization of clubbing.
As he pointed out, the problem with illegal possession of weapons has two aspects. One concerns the legislative framework, for which he said that the government is proceeding with the tightening, which it will announce, to limit the illegal possession and carrying of weapons, with an emphasis on Crete where the problem of illegal use of weapons is more intense. The second aspect includes the operational plan with targeted disarmament operations in areas where illegal arms possession is rampant. As argued by Mr. Chrysochoidis, “…through a legislative arrangement that refers to the possible disarmament of all those who possess illegal weapons, to surrender them within a certain period of time, so that at the same time as the operations begin an effort to change the climate in that particular place.” He added how “Crete does not have a high crime rate. The problem is limited to Psiloritis, north of Psiloritis and south which are Kamares and Vorizia”.
Regarding the measures he has announced regarding the carrying of weapons and the use of weapons, he clarified that until today there is a restriction and criminal treatment for weapons of war. “Pistols and revolvers are now subject to severe restrictions and severe penalties…. The second is patchwork at ceremonies and weddings. This is criminalized and with the responsibility of the person who makes the social event”, he said characteristically.
Regarding the upgrade of the Organized Crime Department of Crete to a Sub-Directorate, the minister pointed out:
• The goal is not to go and do yurusia in the villages. The goal is to root out crime, which has been entrenched for decades within certain families.
• The problem is that for many years in this region and for many reasons that are known, there was a tolerance of gun ownership, the use of weapons and in general criminality in certain places. That is, animal theft, which then became agricultural damage, then became drugs, and then slowly we moved into organized crime.
• They take out weapons because that’s how they learned for so many years thanks to the tolerance that existed. All this has nothing to do with vendettas and all that we hear that there is supposedly a “tradition” there. They are criminal groups, who are currently infringing, making a lot of money, they are people with assets, with illegal activities.
• The point is to implement strict legislation, which will be enforced by the police, but mainly through the passing of a message that “discounts and tolerance are over”. Don’t ask me why. Let’s all look in the mirror and see why.”
Mr. Chrysochoidis, answering related questions, also referred to the following:
For Antifa:
Regarding the inclusion, by the State Department, in the list of international terrorist organizations, of two Greek organizations accused of connections with Antifa, he emphasized: “I don’t know exactly what the American government is doing, who it considers terrorists. “Antifa” exist all over Europe and in Greece. To this day, here, we have some activist activity. We have no terrorist activity. There is an activism, which is limited to some specific actions that we know.”
For the Roma:
• On the occasion of the incident of the pursuit of perpetrators by groups of the Dias in the area of Agios Dimitrios, where three police officers were injured, he said that they would be arrested. “… The police no longer let anyone go without arresting them,” he noted and gave the clue that the car belongs to a Roma, emphasizing the need to deal with crime involving Roma perpetrators, as well as dealing with crime in settlements with high delinquency. “Drugs, thefts, burglaries, all this has to end,” he added.
• Targeted operations begin tomorrow, November 15, in Attica as well, with the participation of 120 police officers in areas such as Aspropyrgos, with the aim of limiting delinquency phenomena.
• In the rest of the territory where the implementation of the plan has started since last Saturday, there is a very positive climate from the local communities, from the people themselves, those who live in the settlements.
Regarding the increase in fraud against, mainly, elderly people, the minister pointed out that the police have already started an information campaign. “We will intensify this effort and it is not just the police. Other agencies must also send messages and inform the world about these issues. There is also online fraud. There are too many thefts through cards…”, underlined Mr. Chrysochoidis.
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