(GHM/IFEX) – The following is a GHM press release: Topic: Harassment and brief arrest of Greek TV crew filming police abuse Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) condemns the harassment and brief arrest by Hellenic Police (ELAS) of members of an Alpha TV crew, on 10 June 2005, while they were filming abusive police controls of young […]
(GHM/IFEX) – The following is a GHM press release:
Topic: Harassment and brief arrest of Greek TV crew filming police abuse
Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) condemns the harassment and brief arrest by Hellenic Police (ELAS) of members of an Alpha TV crew, on 10 June 2005, while they were filming abusive police controls of young drivers in Faliro (Greater Athens). GHM calls for a prompt, impartial and independent investigation of both cases of police unlawful behavior and the sanctioning of all officers involved in the incidents or in charge of the operation.
In the early hours of 10 June 2005, an (Athens-bases national channel) Alpha TV crew, made up of reporter Spyros Lambrou, cameraman Giorgos Pelekis and sound engineer Yannis Floros, was filming police controls of young drivers engaged in speeding manoeuvres and testing of loud sound car equipment, in an empty parking behind a major sports facility in Faliro. As shown in a video broadcast on the evening news programs of that day – on file with GHM and transcribed in http://www.alphatv.gr/index.asp?a_id=194&news_id=5269 – a police patrol car signalled at a private car engaged in dangerous manoeuvring to stop. While the latter did so immediately, a police officer leaped out of his car, pulled his gun and aimed it at the unarmed young driver. The incident was also confirmed with on camera interviews by several eyewitnesses, who also stated that, in previous similar controls, police officers beat them.
The footage also indicates that when they realized they were being filmed, the police officers ordered the cameraman to stop filming, “as it was not allowed,” and proceeded to arrest him and one of his colleagues. Only when the reporter protested and also informed police that the crew had taped the incident showing the abuses did police stop the arrest. According to the crew’s statement to GHM, police also stopped all controls of the youth and did not proceed with any arrests.
The authorities have not yet launched an investigation into the unlawful behaviour of the police officers. GHM recalls that it has twice before protested that police officers harass and often arrest persons who film them in action, even though there is no such legislation. In one case, both police and the ombudsman to whom GHM protested did not take any action; in another, to the credit of the Western Attica Police, an investigation was carried out and an officer was sanctioned accordingly.
