Hellenic Police


The Hellenic Police is the national police service and one of the three security forces of Greece. It is a large agency with responsibilities ranging from road traffic control to counter-terrorism. Police Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios is Chief of the Hellenic Police. He replaced Lazaros Mavropoulos in January 2024. The Hellenic Police force was established in 1984 under Law 1481/1-10-1984 as the result of the merger of the Gendarmerie and the Cities Police forces.
According to Law 7187/2025 which reorganized, upgraded and modernized the Hellenic Police's structure, mission and modus operandi, replacing the previous Law 2800/2000, the Hellenic Police is a security force whose primary missions are:
  • the Protection of the State, including
  • * The Protection of the Democratic Regime and the State Institutions
  • * The Neutralization of Threats which Risk the State's Security
  • * The Protection of State Officials, Local and Foreign, who are Located in the Country
  • * The Inspection of Compliance with Laws regarding Weapons and Explosive Devices
  • * The Tackling of Terrorism and Extremist Violence
  • Public Security, including
  • * The Prosecution of Crimes Against Life & Personal Freedom and Property Crimes
  • * The Prosecution of Cybercrime
  • * The Prosecution of Narcotics Trafficking
  • * The Prosecution of Illegal Trade and Antiquities Smuggling
  • * The Prosecution of Human Trafficking
  • * The Prosecution of Financial Crime
  • * The Prosecution of Domestic and Transborder Organized Crime
  • * The Search for Missing Persons, as well as for Lost and Stolen Items
  • * The Search and Arrest of Prosecuted Persons
  • General and Traffic Policing, including
  • * The Assurance of Social Peace and Citizen Protection
  • * The Maintenance of Order in Public Spaces and Public Gatherings and the Protection of the Personal and Collective Rights of Citizens during said Conditions
  • * The Inspection of the Lawful Operation of Stores
  • * The Transport of Prisoners from Detention Facilities to the Courts of Law
  • * The Inspection of Compliance with Tourist Laws
  • * The Regulation of Traffic in Public Spaces
  • * The Enforcement of Traffic Laws and Regulations
  • * The Investigation of Traffic Accidents
  • Community Policing
  • * The Protection of Human Rights and the Fundamental Freedoms secured by the Constitution
  • * The Protection of Family Integrity and the Tackling of Domestic Violence
  • * The Tackling of Gender-Based Violence
  • * The Tackling of Hate Crimes, specifically the Prosecution of Offences against Persons or Groups due to their race, skin color, ethnic descent, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity or characteristics
  • * The Protection of Underage or other Vulnerable Individuals
  • Foreigners Policing and Border Protection
  • * The Prevention, Deterrence and Suppression of Illegal Entry and Exit of Foreign Citizens to the Country, as well as their Illegal Employment
  • * The Tracking and Arrest of Foreign Citizens who Enter, Exit, Reside and Work Illegally in the Country and their Referral to the Judicial Authorities or their Repatriation, as well as the Tracking and Arrest of Persons who Illegally Traffic or Facilitate the Illegal Entry, Exit and Employment of the Foreign Persons and their Referral to the Judicial Authorities
  • * The Detention of Foreigners who have Illegally Entered or Reside in the Country in Specific Detention Facilities
The Hellenic Police is constituted along central and regional lines. The force takes direction from the Minister for Citizen Protection.

Structure

Overview

The Hellenic Police force is headed in a de jure sense by the Minister for Citizen Protection, and although the Minister sets the general policy direction of Greece's stance towards law and order as a whole, the Chief of Police is the day-to-day head of the force. Underneath the Chief of Police is the First Deputy Chief, who oversees and coordinates all Operations and Special Police Forces across the country in accordance to the Chief's orders. In addition, in the event of the Chief of Police being unable to assume his duties, they will take over as the interim head. Underneath the First Deputy Chief is the Second Deputy Chief, who heads the five Staff General Divisions of the Hellenic Police, which in turn coordinate all central and regional services of the force in order to ensure the enforcement of the its five primary missions. The Policing and Security General Division is by far the most important, and includes the Policing Division, the Community Policing Division, the Public Security Division, the State Security Division, the Passports and Other Security Documents Division and the International Police Cooperation Division. Equal in rank to the Chief and the Deputy Chiefs, are the General Police Coordinators of Southern and Northern Greece, who have under their jurisdiction the regional services of both these administrative divisions.

Regional jurisdiction

Greece is divided into two sectors for policing, both headed by a General Police Coordinator with the rank of Lieutenant General. These sectors both contain several regions, headed by Regional Directors, usually with the rank of Major General or sometimes with the rank of Brigadier General.
Southern Greece
Northern Greece
Note: While Thessaloniki is not considered a region from a geographical and administrative standpoint, the Thessaloniki General Police Directorate operates as a General Regional Directorate and is actually considered the Hellenic Police's "Northern Greece HQ".

Divisions and Services

The Hellenic Police force has several Divisions and Services under the authority of the Chief of Police and the 2 Deputy Chiefs. These Divisions are usually headed by Major Generals and Brigadier Generals. They are as follows:
Overseen by the Chief of Police:
  • Intelligence Management and Analysis Division – This Division as well as all its Regional Departments compile, manage and analyze every piece of intelligence gathered by the different Police Services around the country and collaborate closely with the National Intelligence Service of Greece in order to create comprehensive profiles for criminals and criminal organizations and assist investigative services in their work –
  • * Subdivision of Intelligence Management and Analysis of Northern Greece
  • * Regional Departments of Intelligence Management and Analysis
  • Organized Crime Division – The newest division of the Hellenic Police, which started operating on October 17, 2024, and has been dubbed the "Greek FBI", with the duty to combat Organized Crime across the country. It is headquartered in Attica, but there also operates the Subdivision of Organized Crime of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki and the Subdivision of Organized Crime of Crete in Heraklion. –
  • * Subdivision of Narcotics
  • ** General Investigations and International Cooperation Department
  • ** Cocaine Department
  • ** Heroin Department
  • ** Cannabis and Synthetic Drugs Department
  • ** Athens International Airport Narcotics Department
  • * Subdivision of Property Crimes and Crimes Against Life
  • ** Crimes Against Life and Personal Freedom Department
  • ** Property Crimes Department
  • ** Extortion Crimes Department
  • * Subdivision of Human Trafficking and Illegal Items Trafficking
  • ** Human Trafficking Department
  • ** Illegal Items Trafficking Department
  • ** National Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Protection Department
  • * Subdivision of Financial Crimes
  • ** Public Property and European Resources Protection Department
  • ** Private Property Protection Department
  • ** Economy Protection Department
  • ** Insurance Fraud Department
  • ** Tax Affairs Department
  • * Subdivision of Organized Athletic Violence
  • ** Sports Games Protection Department
  • ** Special Investigations Department
  • ** Intelligence Department
  • * Subdivision of Intelligence and Operations
  • ** Intelligence Management and Strategy Analysis Department
  • *** Intelligence Management and Operational Analysis Office
  • *** Strategic Analysis Office
  • *** Intelligence Systems Office
  • ** Technical Applications Department
  • ** Witness Protection Department
  • ** Special Interrogations Department
  • ** Special Operational Taskforces Department
  • *** Prevention and Mediation Units
  • * Subdivision of Administrative Support
  • ** Budget Management Department
  • ** Inventory and Gear Management Department
  • ** Technical Support Department
  • ** Processing Department
  • * Subdivision of Organized Crime of Northern Greece
  • ** Department of Narcotics
  • ** Department of Property Crimes and Crimes against Life
  • ** Department of Human Trafficking and Illegal Items Trafficking
  • ** Department of Financial Crime
  • ** Department of Organized Athletic Violence
  • ** Department of Intelligence and Operations
  • ** Department of Administrative Support
  • * Subdivision of Organized Crime of Crete
  • ** Department of Narcotics
  • ** Department of Special Criminal Activities
  • *** Rapid Response Operational Unit
  • ** Department of Human Trafficking and Illegal Items Trafficking
  • ** Department of Financial Crime
  • ** Department of Intelligence and Administrative Support
  • Special Violent Crimes Division –
  • * Domestic Terrorism Department
  • * International Terrorism Department
  • * State and Democracy Protection Department
  • * Operations and Special Inspections Department
  • * Administrative Support Department
  • * Intelligence Management Department
  • * Subdivision of Special Violent Crimes of Northern Greece
  • Cyber Crime Division –
  • * Telecommunications & Digital Transactions Safety and Software & Copyright Protection Department
  • * Juvenile Online Protection Department
  • * Special Cases and Digital Investigations Department
  • * Online Financial Crimes Department
  • * Innovative Actions and Strategies Department
  • * Administrative Support and Intelligence Management Department
  • * Subdivision of Cyber Crime of Northern Greece
  • Forensic Investigations Division –
  • * Subdivision of Biological and Biochemical Tests and Analyses
  • ** Biological Materials Analysis Department
  • *** DNA Evidence Analysis Laboratory
  • *** Human Identification Laboratory
  • ** National Genetics Database Department
  • ** Administrative Support Department
  • ** Scientific Support Department
  • * Subdivision of Crime Scene Investigation and Fingerprint Examination
  • ** Crime Scene Investigations Department
  • ** Fingerprint Examination Department
  • ** Forensic Photography Department
  • ** Administrative Support Department
  • * Subdivision of Laboratories
  • ** Firearms and Other Instrument Traces Laboratories Department
  • *** Firearms and Ammunition Technology Laboratory
  • *** Comparative Ballistic Examinations Laboratory
  • *** Instrument Traces Examination Laboratory
  • *** Vehicle Examination - Identification Laboratory
  • *** Keys and Locks Examination Laboratory
  • ** Forensic Graphology and Document and Currency Forgery Laboratories Department
  • *** Forensic Graphology Laboratory
  • *** Document and Currency Forgery and Counterfeiting Examination Laboratory
  • ** Chemical and Physic Examinations Department
  • *** Toxicology Laboratory
  • *** Glass, Plastics, Synthetic Textile Fibers and Dyes Examination Laboratory
  • *** Gunshot Residue Examination Laboratory
  • *** Makeshift Explosive Devices Analysis Laboratory
  • *** Makeshift Incendiary Devices Analysis Laboratory
  • *** Makeshift Explosive and Incendiary Devices and other Electronic Circuits Technology Laboratory
  • *** Pyrotechnics Laboratory
  • ** Administrative Support Department
  • * Subdivision of Digital Forensic Investigation and Analysis
  • ** Digital Data Management and Quality Control Department
  • ** Digital Evidence Examination Department
  • *** Digital Evidence Examination and Analysis Laboratory
  • *** Data Recovery and Analysis from Non-Functional Digital Systems Laboratory
  • ** Audiovisual and Photographical Evidence Analysis Department
  • *** Video and Imagery Examination Laboratory
  • *** Voice and Audio Examination Laboratory
  • ** Management of the National Database of Sexual Exploitation Records of Minors Department
  • * Subdivision of Forensic Investigations of Northern Greece
  • * Regional Departments and Offices of Forensic Investigations
Overseen by the First Deputy Chief :
  • Government Officials and other Susceptible Targets Protection General Division –
  • * President Protection Service – Equivalent of the US Secret Service
  • * Prime Minister Protection Service
  • * Parliament Security Service
  • * Cabinet Members and other Politicians Security Service
  • * Foreign Government Officials and other Susceptible Targets Protection Service
  • Division of Operations and Crises Management –
  • * Coordination, Administrative and Technical Support Department
  • * Operational Planning, Collaborations and Training Department
  • ** Police Negotiators Squad
  • * Surveillance Instruments Management Department
  • * Critical Infrastructure, People and Public Places Protection Department
  • * Hybrid Threats and Strategic Communication Department
  • * Operational Command Center
  • Police Special Forces 'Division –
  • * Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit – Equivalent of the American SWAT
  • * Subdivision of Explosive Devices Disposal and K-9 Operators
  • ** Department of Explosive Devices Disposal
  • *** Regional Bomb Squad Units
  • ** Department of K-9 Operators
  • *** Regional K-9 Units
  • * Subdivision of Special Police Forces of Northern Greece
  • Hellenic Police Air Force Division – This used to be part of the Police Special Forces Division, but got promoted to a standalone Division in 2016. –
  • * Subdivision of Manned Aircraft – It is equipped with 5 Helicopters in Attica and Thessaloniki.
  • * Subdivision of Unmanned Aircraft – Despite the scarcity of helicopters and their exclusive presence in Attica and Thessaloniki, some Police Directorates in the country's largest cities have equipped drones to assist operations, especially search and rescue as well as border patrol. This Subdivision has a total of 9 Drones as well as 2 Israeli ThunderB-Spylite aircraft.
  • * Subdivision of Police Air Force of Northern Greece
Overseen by the Second Deputy Chief :
  • Staff Coordination General Division -
  • * Organization and Legal Support Division
  • ** Organization Department
  • ** Legal Affairs Department
  • ** Collection and Processing of Legal Documents Department
  • * Strategic Planning Division
  • ** Strategic and Long-Term Planning Department
  • ** Research and Innovation Department
  • ** Department of Funds
  • * Communication Division
  • ** Media Affairs Department
  • ** Customs, Public Relations and Retired Police Personnel Support Department
  • ** Publications Department
  • ** Hellenic Police Marching Band
  • ** Hellenic Police History Department
  • ** Physical Education and Sports Department
  • ** Coordination Department
  • ** Civilian Communication and Administrative Support Department
  • Security and Policing General Division –
  • * Policing Division
  • ** General Policing Department
  • ** Operational Planning and Civil Protection Department
  • ** Traffic Measures and Operations Department
  • ** Road Traffic Data Analysis and Civilian Awareness Department
  • * Community Policing Division
  • ** Human Rights and Vulnerable Individuals Protection Department
  • ** Domestic Violence Department
  • ** Juvenile Protection Department
  • ** Hate Crimes Department
  • ** Gender-based Violence Department
  • ** Animals Protection Department
  • * Public Security Division
  • ** Data Collection and Analysis Department
  • ** Organized Crime Department
  • ** Suppression of Crime Department
  • ** Administrative Affairs Department
  • * State Protection Division
  • ** Intelligence and Security Department
  • ** Vulnerable Targets Protection Department
  • ** Extremism and Terrorism Suppression Department
  • ** Illegal Weapons and Explosive Devices Department
  • ** IDs and Archive Department
  • * International Police Cooperation Division
  • ** Mission and Staff Support Department
  • ** European and International Relations and Diplomacy Department
  • ** SIRENE Department
  • ** INTERPOL Department
  • ** EUROPOL Department
  • * Passports and Other Security Documents Division
  • ** Data Entry and Processing Department
  • ** Inspection and Approval Department
  • ** Printing and Quality Assurance Department
  • ** Digitalization Department
  • ** Hardware Management Department
  • Border Protection, Immigration Control and Foreign Persons General Division –
  • * Border Protection Division
  • ** Border Surveillance Department
  • ** Border Control Department
  • * Immigration Control Division
  • ** Immigrants' Legitimacy Inspection Department
  • ** Detention Facilities Management Department
  • * Foreign Persons Division
  • ** Citizenship, Expatriates and Citizens of the European Union Department
  • ** Administrative Measures Department
  • Human Resources Management General Division –
  • * Uniformed Personnel Division
  • ** Commissioned Officers Department
  • ** Non-Commissioned and other Uniformed Officers Department
  • * Civilian Personnel Division
  • ** Permanent Civilian Personnel Department
  • ** Civilian Personnel with Private Employment Relationship Department
  • ** Civilian Personnel Training-Evaluation Department
  • ** Disciplinary Conduct Department
  • * Education and Human Resources Development Division
  • ** Education and Training Department
  • ** Lifelong Learning and International Training Department
  • * Health and Safety Division –
  • ** Healthcare Department
  • ** Health and Safety Control Department
  • ** Administrative Support Department
  • Support General Division –
  • * Informatics Systems and Digital Governance Division
  • ** Budgeting and Project Monitoring Department
  • ** Digital Services Design and Development Department
  • ** Operational Function Department
  • ** Informational Security and Privacy Department
  • ** IT Support Department
  • * Communications and Networking Division
  • ** Central Infrastructure and Operational Systems Department
  • ** Regional Terminal Equipment and Networks Department
  • ** Planning and Security Department
  • * Infrastructure and Technical Means Division
  • ** Technical Support Subdivision
  • *** Means of Transportation Department
  • *** Weaponry Department
  • *** General and Personal Gear Department
  • *** Infrastructure Department
  • ** Maintenance and Applications Subdivision
  • *** Administrative Support Department
  • *** Transport Department
  • *** Drivers Training Department
  • *** General Maintenance Department
  • * Financial Support Division
  • ** Budget Monitoring Department
  • ** Service Vehicle and Gear Ascription Department
  • ** Uniformed Personnel Salary and Insurance Department
  • ** Civilian Personnel Salary and Insurance Department
  • * Fixed Advances Division
  • ** Accounting Department
  • ** Civilian Personnel Travel Expenses Department
  • * Administrative Support Division
  • ** Administration Department
  • ** Budget-Inventory Management Department
  • ** Police HQ Guarding Department
Other Specialized Police Units within Departments'
  • Groups of Bicycle-mounted Police
  • Zeta Group
  • Traffic Accidents Control and Prevention Units
  • Mobile Police Units
  • Crime Prevention and Suppression Units – Equivalent of the LAPD's Metro Division's B and C Platoons which are responsible for crime suppression, providing assistance to major crimes investigators and serving warrants among other duties.
  • Action Group
  • Prevention and Suppression Units
  • Border Guards
  • Units for the Reinstatement of Order
  • Airport Police
  • Prisoner Transport – Courtroom Police
  • Tourist Police. With the law 6450/1935, Government Gazette 14/A/13-1-1935, was founded the Tourist Police Directorate which initially was Directorate of the Greek National Tourism Organization having police officers from Hellenic Gendarmerie and the Cities Police. The Tourist Police Directorate of EOT was abolished by the Mandatory Law 297/1968, Government Gazette 38/A/22-2-1968, replacing by two Tourist Police directorates, one of the Hellenic Gendarmerie Headquarters and one of the Cities Police Headquarters respectively. With the law 1481/1984, Government Gazette 152/A/8-10-1984, the Tourist Police was abolished and its services assigned to the local police stations and units making in-house tourist offices in which were abolished thereafter by the Presidential Decree 508/1989, Government Gazette 216/A/3-10-1989. In 1993 Tourist Police re-founded. With the articles 101 and 105 of the Presidential Decree 7/2017, Government Gazette 14/A/9-2-2017, created the Stations and Units of the Tourist Police at the Hellenic Police Directorates at several prefectures.