Police have been instructed to use their service weapons if necessary and make immediate arrests following an alleged surge in serious assaults against officers, according to an internal directive seen by Phileleftheros.
The police order, issued in the second half of March by Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis and distributed to all members of the force, provides guidelines for officers dealing with incidents where they face perceived risk.
The instructions urge officers to carry personal protective equipment and firearms when responding to situations where there is a serious threat to their safety. Specifically, they are advised to carry their service baton and pepper spray when interacting with the public during their duties. Furthermore, the directive states that when the nature of the task requires it, officers should “carry and – if necessary – use their service weapon.”
The police order sends a clear message of zero tolerance towards attacks on members of the force and mandates the swift apprehension and court referral of individuals involved in such assaults.
Serious assaults defined
The directive clarifies the definition of a “serious assault” as any attack on an officer that causes actual bodily harm or other injury. This category also includes acts of “common assault” such as pushing, spitting, and slapping, especially when committed in public and aimed at obstructing officers from performing their duties.
Immediate prosecution
The order mandates that in cases of serious assault, police personnel must immediately arrest suspects and complete the investigative work without delay. This is to ensure the prompt forwarding of cases for trial before a court. Officers are specifically instructed to request the earliest possible trial date.
The guidelines are detailed, apparently to ensure the desired outcome. The police order urges heads of district police prosecution offices to instruct public prosecutors not to consent to adjournment requests from defence lawyers.
Additionally, the directive states that the court should be informed of the increasing number of attacks against police officers and the need to protect institutions, explicitly noting that the police are also an institution.
Appeals process
The guidelines also outline the procedure for cases where penalties for those convicted of serious assaults are deemed lenient. If the head of the district prosecution office, the relevant police director, and the public prosecutor who handled the case consider the sentence insufficient, further legal action should be taken. A recommendation should be made to the Director of the Crime Investigation Department at Police Headquarters and subsequently to the Attorney General of the Republic to file an appeal.
According to the Police Chief’s decisions, as recorded in the police order, there will be no tolerance for even non-serious assaults. These less severe attacks should still be investigated within ten days, and efforts should be made to register and try the cases as quickly as possible.
Contact with IPISA
The police order also aims to ensure the proper handling of potential complaints to the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police (IPISA).
The Chief’s directive states that if an arrested person or suspect files a complaint with IPISA alleging assault by a police officer during arrest or detention, the legal department of Police Headquarters and the Assistant Chief of Crime Prevention and Combating must be informed. The legal department will then contact IPISA.
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