The Minister of Justice cancelled the recent instructions of the Chief of Police to change the working hours of police officers related to the fight against crime, thus showing his dissatisfaction with the decision.
Two days after the decision of Chief Themistos Arnaoutis to change the working hours of the members of the Crime Prevention Squads (OPE) harmonizing it with that of the other members working with the shift system, the competent minister requested the withdrawal of the decision.
Kostas Fytiris gave instructions for the suspension of the decision in order to precede an assessment of the operational needs as well as to justify why the changes should be made to the working hours or whether a need arises.
It is not excluded that at some stage a consultation will follow to find solutions.
However, so far no meeting has been arranged between the two men on the issue, which shows the heavy climate that exists between them and which is overshadowed by a series of events in recent months that have caused a rupture in their relations.
As estimated by government circles, the issue will not stay until here since the return of the President from India will be expected to be raised again and the situation can be evaluated. The Presidential Office is already aware of the new rupture in the relations between the minister and the Chief.
This was recently preceded by the "summoning" of the two to the Presidential Palace by President Christodoulidis himself, after the unsuccessful attempt not to close the Rizoelia junction by the breeders.
Despite the instructions at the time, the Police acted differently, as a result of which discomfort was expressed at the highest level about whether the instructions given were being heeded.
The recent disagreement between the Minister of Justice and the Chief of Police, who did not stay away from the public eye, also shows the state of affairs.
What is now pervasive within the Police is that the Corps is currently going through a situation of introversion, at a time when it should make its counterattack both against organized crime and for the consolidation of the sense of security of the citizens.
Another element that is being discussed within the Police is the frequent transfers that are announced where the deck is constantly shuffled without evaluation of the results by those who hold posts, while soon the leadership of the Police will also enter a cycle of changes, since this year two of the assistant chiefs are leaving.
