Chrysochoidis: 9,000 Juvenile Arrests in Eight Months, Urges Stricter Penalties for Parents

New "Save Youth" Panic Button App Launching Soon – Police Target Roma Camps – Initiative for 1,000 Traffic Cameras in Attica

Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, addressed the issue of juvenile delinquency, efforts to combat organized crime, and measures to reduce traffic violations.

According to Chrysochoidis, 6,150 minors were arrested in 2023, while arrests surged to 9,000 in 2024, despite a 20% reduction in overall incidents.

Focusing on the area of Glyfada, the Minister stated, “We face significant problems with 3,000–4,000 children gathering in squares. There is both uniformed and plainclothes police presence, dialogues with the children, and relationships are built, enabling the collection of valuable information.”

However, Chrysochoidis emphasized the need for stricter penalties for parents and a child-appropriate legal approach for juveniles. “It’s challenging to send a child to a reformatory. But when a parent blatantly neglects their child’s care, there should be consequences.”

The Minister reminded that the police have established a nationwide hotline, 10201, for reporting juvenile delinquency. He also announced the upcoming launch of the “Save Youth” app by the end of the month. This panic button application for children will be installed on their phones, allowing them to send a distress signal directly to the police, ensuring a rapid response.

When asked about the police’s approach to the Roma community, Chrysochoidis revealed that between January and August, 8,417 arrests were made in Athens and Thessaloniki by OPKE (Crime Prevention and Suppression Teams), compared to 2,919 during the same period in 2023. “We are now targeting the core of organized crime, including robberies, thefts, and fraud. The western Attica community celebrated recent police operations, and we will continue to be active within Roma settlements.”

Finally, on the issue of traffic violations, the Minister announced a plan to install 1,000 cameras for monitoring traffic offenses, most of which will be in Attica. He noted that between January and August, one million more violations were recorded compared to previous years.