Femicide in Athens: why did the police fail?
A 28-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her ex-partner outside a police station in an Athens suburb on Monday night. She had asked the police to drive her home because she felt threatened, but they told her to call the police emergency number 100 instead. When she did, she was turned down with the words "We're not a taxi service". The national press sees serious problems with the police.
A problem in the system
News website In comments:
“There is much more to this murder than the complete indifference and fundamental lack of professionalism of one or two or more police officers. This case tragically reveals the inadequacy of state protection. Not its failure, because failure presupposes at least a prior effort. But when the police are bogged down by bureaucratic procedures, formalities and the civil service mentality of bygone times, no such effort is made in the first place.”
Learn from the taxi drivers
In the view of Protagon journalist Lila Stampouloglou, the police officers failed in their duty:
“A patrol car is certainly not a taxi. Although many taxis do, in a way, act as police cars, if I may say so. ... I've had a lot of them. Taxi drivers who waited patiently for me to unlock the front door when they dropped me off at home in those hours when the neighbourhood was plunged into silence. ... However, it is others who are paid to protect you; this is not a matter of compassion. If you ask them for help, it is their duty to give it to you. The regulations do not say that patrol cars should function as taxis, but under certain circumstances they should.”
Police can't offer credible protection against violence
Blogger Pitsirikos points to the numerous cases of police brutality in Greece:
“Let's create a system, an agency for the protection of abused people, and not include the police. Because firstly, the police have been 'burnt' forever in this regard in Agioi Anargyroi over the murder of Kyriaki Grivain. Secondly, doesn't everyone understand that it is stupid for an abused person to ask for help and protection from the police, who are the biggest perpetrators of violence in Greek society and have beaten up thousands of people?”