Today marks the end of a cycle for me at the Ministry of Citizen Protection. A short but dense cycle.
With hard work, daily effort and absolute awareness of the difficulties, I have tried to cope with a demanding and mainly multi-level sector, as the security and protection of citizens is a complex issue that depends on many and often unpredictable factors.
In these seven months we managed to move forward on critical issues both in the context of modernising and improving our prison system, which was my main responsibility, and in improving our anti-crime policy.
True to the timeframes we had set, we managed to open the prison of Drama, a modern prison which not only meets the requirements for proper correctional treatment and reintegration of convicts but will also decongest and rehabilitate the other prisons of Macedonia and Thrace.
At the same time, we have laid the foundations for the implementation of the electronic monitoring of detainees, known as the «bracelet», which will contribute decisively to the achievement of modern and humane detention conditions for all detainees and which is not only common ground for advanced European States but also a requirement of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment, known as the CPT.
Our above actions and our tireless efforts to improve our prison system have been recognized by the Council of Europe Committee and have been able to suspend the risk of a Public Statement against our country. In addition, we proceeded with the major project of relocation of the Korydallos prison for which the tender process has started.
Without wishing to be long-winded, allow me to make a reference to an issue that I personally consider particularly important.
In order to tackle delinquency at the level of prevention, which I consider the most crucial, as it is the root of the problem, we have established the Central Council for the Prevention of Delinquency (CPCPA), which I believe can activate the reflexes of local communities, municipalities and regions, being an essential aid in the prevention of delinquency and a real mound in the fight against mainly petty crime, juvenile delinquency and domestic violence, which will be a key element in the prevention of delinquency.
I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the confidence he has shown in me by entrusting me with the responsibilities of the Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection.
And of course, the two former Ministers, Notis Mitarachi, Giannis Oikonomou and my colleagues at the Ministry of Citizen Protection for the excellent cooperation we had.
In conclusion, I would like to say a special thank you to the women and men of the Greek Police, to the employees of the General Secretariat for Anticrime Policy and to the prison officers, who every day give their best for all Greeks.
We all owe them a debt of gratitude.
I'm leaving exactly as I wanted to when I first came. I'm leaving with my head held high. But also with a great bitterness, and that is none other than the fact that we recently lost two police officers in the line of duty. This is the greatest sorrow that both the political and physical leadership of the Ministry of Civil Protection had.
We will never forget them.
I wish the new leadership of the Ministry good luck in the difficult task they are undertaking.
Personally, I will continue to be a soldier of our great centre-right party, NEA DEMOCRACY and my beloved Piraeus.
As always.
Kostas Katsafados
