Hellenic Police

The Hellenic Police (Greek: Ελληνική Αστυνομία, romanized: Ellinikí Astynomía, abbreviated ΕΛ.ΑΣ.) is the national police service and one of the three security forces of Greece (the others being the Hellenic Fire Service and the Hellenic Coast Guard). 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 (Government Gazette 152/A/8-10-1984) as the result of the merger of the Gendarmerie (Χωροφυλακή, Chorofylakí, 1833–1984) and the Cities Police (Αστυνομία Πόλεων, Astynomía Póleon, 1921–1984) 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, including
  • 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, including
  • 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.