(eKathimerini) The municipal police force, disbanded in the summer of 2013 as part of the previous government’s cutbacks, is to become operational again but with less than half its original members.
By Thursday’s deadline for applications to rejoin the force, around 300 former employees of the capital’s municipal police had responded. Another 70 former members of the Athens force have assumed posts in other municipal services since its abolition.
The Athens municipal police force had comprised 1,023 employees at its peak and since the force was disbanded, Mayor Giorgos Kaminis has stressed the need for its reestablishment as a way of curbing illegal parking, stopping cafe chairs and tables from sprawling across city sidewalks and raising much-needed revenue.
Overall, a total of 3,522 people had been employed as municipal police officers in 179 local authorities.
