Greece will introduce mandatory electronic monitoring bracelets for individuals convicted of domestic violence who are placed under restrictive terms, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis announced on Wednesday.
Speaking during an interview on Greek television channel ANT1, Chrysochoidis said procedures to establish the electronic tracking system have already begun, with full technical and operational details expected to be announced shortly.
Under the new measures, law enforcement will be able to monitor whether a convicted offender approaches a victim in breach of court orders. Chrysochoidis stated that any repeat offenders detected violating their restriction orders will face immediate imprisonment.
Domestic Violence Reforms
The policy announcement follows ongoing judicial proceedings regarding the murder of Kyriaki Griva, who was killed outside an Athens police station in April 2024.
Chrysochoidis acknowledged that the April 2024 murder profoundly marked the Hellenic Police, its operations, its social role, and its future perspective. He admitted that the police response during the incident involved severe inertia and multiple errors occurring within a matter of minutes.
Since the tragedy, Greek law enforcement has undergone comprehensive reforms and now operates strictly under standardized intervention protocols. Chrysochoidis noted that the police force established 63 specialized Domestic Violence Offices across Greece to handle domestic abuse complaints.
The Greek government has also enacted stricter criminal legislation, introduced specialized training for judges and prosecutors, and built a network of secure safe houses where victims and their children can find emergency shelter.
Chrysochoidis announced that the Ministry of Citizen Protection will organize an international forum featuring institutional representatives and scientific experts on domestic violence. The conference will conclude with the signing of an International Declaration aimed at advancing anti-violence initiatives across Europe and worldwide.
Describing domestic violence as an ancient societal issue that has experienced a sharp resurgence in recent years, Chrysochoidis called for a collective effort to combat the phenomenon through legislative reform, institutional action, school programs, family support, and broader social engagement.
Commercial Electricity Theft
Turning to energy crime, Chrysochoidis outlined measures to combat electricity theft, distinguishing between routine small-scale abstractions and large-scale commercial operations that take on the characteristics of organized crime.
While hundreds of small-scale theft operations take place daily across the country, major commercial enterprises are carrying out massive power thefts. Chrysochoidis criticized these large businesses, stating that ordinary law-abiding citizens are left paying the cost for their illegal consumption.
Law enforcement authorities have already opened formal criminal case files against several large companies and are seeking technical assistance from DEDDIE, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator responsible for managing Greece's electrical grid.
Specialized units from the Greek FBI, officially known as the Hellenic Police Division for Combating Organized Crime, have taken over the investigations into major corporate power thieves.
Chrysochoidis also highlighted a separate criminal trend involving Roma groups stealing electrical transformers from agricultural fields. These thefts leave local farmers without irrigation water during the peak of summer.
Addressing smaller residential thefts, Chrysochoidis noted that tapping into power poles requires direct physical intervention by police rather than complex investigations. He urged local municipalities to cooperate more actively with law enforcement.
Chrysochoidis emphasized that police maintain an excellent working relationship with municipal mayors in Western Attica, a region facing severe challenges. He noted that thousands of youths in the area are exposed to juvenile delinquency, presenting a complex social and criminal management issue for authorities.
Traffic Fatalities Drop
Moving to road safety, Chrysochoidis reported a significant drop in traffic fatalities across Greece during August 2026 compared to the same month last year.
Road accident deaths fell by more than half, dropping from 69 fatalities in August 2025 to 34 in August 2026. Chrysochoidis praised the reduction as an achievement of Greek society and evidence of effective policy implementation.
The fall in traffic deaths coincided with a major expansion of police sobriety checks. During the first eight months of 2026, Greek police conducted over two million breathalyzer tests, compared to approximately one million tests during the same period in 2025.
Increased enforcement contributed to a drop in drunk driving rates across the country. The proportion of drivers caught operating vehicles above the legal alcohol limit dropped from 2.1 percent in 2025 down to 0.9 percent in 2026.
Surveillance Camera Expansion
Regarding electric scooters, Chrysochoidis stated that while total accident numbers remain limited, police surveillance of e-scooters has expanded nationwide.
Official traffic figures show zero e-scooter fatalities in 2024, two deaths in 2025, and one death in 2026, alongside two individuals currently suffering from severe injuries. Across Greece this year, authorities recorded seven serious injuries and 92 minor injuries involving e-scooters, while officers issued 11,000 citations during 6,000 targeted inspections.
On traffic surveillance technology, Chrysochoidis confirmed that six automated traffic cameras are operating on key thoroughfares in the Attica basin, recording thousands of traffic violations that police process continuously.
Additionally, 380 traffic monitoring cameras managed by the Region of Attica are currently active, while a public procurement tender is underway to install 1,000 additional automated surveillance cameras across the region's road network.
