İskeçe police officer faces arrest procedure after attempting to issue parking fine
A police officer in İskeçe (Xanthi), northern Greece, was reportedly taken through the arrest procedure and detained after attempting to issue a traffic violation notice to an illegally parked vehicle, according to a statement by the Association of Special Guards of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The association has expressed its support for the officer and called on the Greek government to consider additional procedural safeguards for police personnel involved in incidents arising from the performance of their official duties.
According to the association’s account, the incident began when the officer attempted to ticket an illegally parked vehicle. The driver subsequently filed a complaint, leading to the officer being subjected to the procedure for offences handled under Greece’s flagrante delicto framework.
The circumstances of the incident and the underlying complaint were not independently established in the statement.
Police union calls for institutional safeguards
The Association of Special Guards of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace said it was not seeking to interfere with the judicial process or prejudge the outcome of the case. Instead, it raised questions about whether arrest and detention procedures are necessary in every case involving an officer whose identity, employment and official address can readily be verified.
The association argued that an officer’s professional status should not provide immunity from the law, but should be considered when authorities assess the necessity and proportionality of procedural measures.
It called for a broader discussion among the government and relevant institutions on whether additional procedural safeguards should apply to officers involved in cases connected with their official duties.
Association stresses that police are not above the law
The union emphasised that its position was not a demand for preferential treatment or exemption from legal accountability.
Instead, it called for clear rules, fair procedures and safeguards that protect both citizens’ rights and police officers who lawfully carry out their responsibilities.
The statement also highlighted the potential personal, financial and psychological consequences of legal proceedings for officers and their families, arguing that such cases should be handled objectively and in accordance with the circumstances involved.
Call for government action
The association urged the Greek state and relevant institutions to examine the issue and consider whether changes to existing procedures are warranted, while respecting judicial independence and the principle of equality before the law.
It reiterated its support for the officer in İskeçe (Xanthi), saying that police personnel should be able to perform their duties professionally and lawfully without being left without institutional support when disputes arise in the course of their work.
The association concluded that protecting public safety requires officers to be able to enforce the law with confidence, while remaining fully accountable under the same legal framework.
