Police to begin patrols at metro stations next week

Some 130 armed police officers will begin patrolling metro stations in Athens next week as part of the government's much-touted plan to restore law and order across the Greek capital.

The Greek Police (ELAS) will be implementing a joint ministerial decision signed in December last year which stipulated that officers will be allowed to travel for free on the metro network - and, in exchange, police agreed to guard the stations.

The plan that will be launched next week envisages that at least one officer will be on patrol duty at all stations from the moment train services begin in the early morning until they end at midnight.

Authorities added that more than one officer will be present at all times at larger stations like Omonia, Syntagma and Attiki, which serve the largest numbers of commuters.

The 150 officers have been recruited from local precincts...