The situation at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is extremely tense, with dozens of student union members continuing to oppose the presence of the university police, and riots erupted at noon.
By June 2022, the Greek police have hired a total of 2,000 special guards for universities. Also, OPPI University Protection Teams (Ομάδες Προστασίας Πανεπιστημιακών Ιδρυμάτων) have been established, which consist of police officers and special security guards hired solely for the purpose of protecting the safety of persons on campus and the entire infrastructure of the educational institution.
According to Grtimes.gr, various objects, eggs and bottles were thrown towards the police from the side of the gathered students, the MAT officers responded with tear gas.
Riots erupted in front of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on Friday, when police teams led a small patrol of the university police inside the academic building.
In their statements, students complained that there were cases when students were not allowed to enter the faculties “by ΜΑΤ employees, they demanded to present an identity card.”
According to them, on Thursday there was a case when a student who was trying to get into the Faculty of Biology refused to show his ID to the OMON officers and missed the class where the exam was supposed to take place. They also note that they will not accept the police and the special unit for the dispersal of rallies and demonstrations (MAT) on campus and will continue their protests.
Protests against the introduction of university police began from the first days of September.
By June 2022, the Greek police have hired a total of 2,000 special guards for universities. Also, OPPI University Protection Teams (Ομάδες Προστασίας Πανεπιστημιακών Ιδρυμάτων) have been established, which consist of police officers and special security guards hired solely for the purpose of protecting the safety of persons on campus and the entire infrastructure of the educational institution.
OPPI perform police duties on campus for:
- Prevention of committing and counteracting any criminal act on the territory of the university.
- Video security, carried out jointly with the staff of universities.
- Carrying out patrols while on duty.
Members of the OPPI are allowed to carry out the duties of preliminary investigation of the incidents that have arisen. However, as emphasized, they there will be no firearms. guards will cooperate closely with the competent authorities and services, exercising supervision and timely reporting to the highest authority for appropriate action in each case.
Most of the students and many teachers did not agree with such a measure, believing that the guards infringe on their freedom and the right to self-expression.
OPPI perform police duties on campus for:
- Prevention of committing and counteracting any criminal act on the territory of the university.
- Video security, carried out jointly with the staff of universities.
- Carrying out patrols while on duty.
Members of the OPPI are allowed to carry out the duties of preliminary investigation of the incidents that have arisen. However, as emphasized, they there will be no firearms. guards will cooperate closely with the competent authorities and services, exercising supervision and timely reporting to the highest authority for appropriate action in each case.
Most of the students and many teachers did not agree with such a measure, believing that the guards infringe on their freedom and the right to self-expression.
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