Policing the world’s oldest democracy during the pandemic

Abstract

Abstract The present study examines the role of the Hellenic Police during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In particular, based on data available through various sources, it will attempt to describe how the Hellenic Police dealt with what was unanimously described as an “unprecedented crisis” at a global level. In order to so, it will endorse a bi-fold approach. Firstly, we will seek to identify the policies and strategies implemented by the Hellenic Police during the COVID-19 crisis; Secondly, we will attempt to assess the effectiveness of these strategies and identify whether this affected the relationship between the Police and the public. Although our analysis indicated that the Hellenic Police played an important role in protecting the public from the effects of the pandemic, there is a lack of consistent and comprehensive data regarding citizens’ views of police legitimacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study concludes that more studies should focus on the effect of COVID-19 on the citizens’ trust in the police as a government institution that during the COVID-19 era was in charge of enforcing a number of policies and strategies that were far from pleasant.