Urban decay

Police to establish discreet presence in Exarchia

The police intend to continue conducting sweeps in the downtown Athens district of Exarchia and to establish a more permanent presence there in a bid to tackle lawlessness in the area.
"Our aim is to make our presence felt without creating the impression of a neighborhood dominated by police," a Citizens' Protection Ministry official told Kathimerini.

Police detains more than 90 people in Exarchia squat sweep

Police in Athens arrested three people and detained more than 90 in a large operation to evict squatters in two buildings in the central district of Exarchia early Thursday morning. 
The raid on Tzavella street followed a similar operation in a house on Solomou street where three people were detained for possession of cannabis.

Under pressure from creditors, Greek gov't restricts borrower protection

Just two days after submitting legislation to Parliament outlining a new framework for the protection of overindebted borrowers from foreclosures, the government on Thursday submitted an amendment watering down that protection after coming under pressure from the country's international creditors. 

Drug racket unraveled in Athens

Another drug racket operating in central Athens was unraveled by police Thursday.

Four foreign nationals - three Albanians and a Tunisian - aged between 27 and 63, were arrested in the neighborhood of Aghios Panteleimonas on charges of running a criminal gang and drug dealing.

Police said the gang was also active in the neighborhoods of Amerikis Square and Victoria.

Greece limits foreclosure protection after financial crisis

Lawmakers in Greece have begun debating tougher regulations to deal with household insolvency after the financial crisis left nearly half of mortgages and commercial loans non-performing or in distress.
The debate started Wednesday at a parliamentary committee despite failure by the government so far to finalize an agreement with bailout creditors on details of the new regulations.

Pages