Hellenic Police Ελληνική Αστυνομία Elliniki Astynomia | |
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Abbreviation | ΕΛΑΣ |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1 November 1984 |
Preceding agencies |
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Jurisdictional structure | |
National agency | Greece |
Operations jurisdiction | Greece |
Governing body | Government of Greece |
Constituting instrument |
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General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Overseen by | Ministry of Citizen Protection |
Headquarters | Athens, Greece |
Sworn members | 65,000 |
Agency executives |
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Website | |
www |
The Hellenic Police (Greek: Ελληνική Αστυνομία, Ellinikí Astynomía, abbreviated ΕΛ.ΑΣ.) is the national police service and one of the three security forces of Greece. It is a large agency with responsibilities ranging from road traffic control to counter-terrorism. Police Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios[1] is Chief of the Hellenic Police. He replaced Lazaros Mavropoulos. The Hellenic Police force was established in 1984 under Law 1481/1-10-1984 (Government Gazette 152/A/8-10-1984) as the result of the fusion of the Gendarmerie (Χωροφυλακή, Chorofylakí, 1833-1984) and the Cities Police (Αστυνομία Πόλεων, Astynomía Póleon, 1921-1984) forces.[2]
According to Law 2800/2000, the Hellenic Police is a security organ whose primary aims are:
The Hellenic Police is constituted along central and regional lines. The force takes direction from the Minister for Citizen Protection.