Etudes par pays volume 2, PDF, 346 p., 1,4 Mo - Femise

11873_2002 Study D2: Poverty, Informal Sector, Health and Labour
One important issue widely debated in Greece is the extent to which
immigrants are involved in criminal activities. Popular belief, formed partly
by exaggerating TV reports, has it that illegal immigrants are responsible for
the majority of crimes. Relevant figures show that among arrested criminals,
illegal immigrants committed, in 1999, 34 per cent of homicides, 25 per cent
of rapes, 42 per cent of thefts-burglaries and 35 per cent of robberies
(Eleftherotypia, 5.4.2000, presenting data of the Ministry of Public Order).
It is believed that these comparative figures give an underestimate of the
true share of foreigners in crime, due to the relative difficulty of
apprehending them (no papers, no fingertips, no specific address, etc). Data
from the ministry of Public Order, referring to the wanted by the police
criminals in Athens and Thessaloniki show that out of the 643 robberies, in
2002, 64 per cent were committed by foreigners, and out of 105 rapes, 51
were committed by foreigners too. In the attempted 47 homicides, the
offenders are foreigners in 33, whereas of the 266 premeditated murders,
207 were committed by foreigners, in which the Albanians have the higher
share. For the ‘’lighter’’ crimes, on the other hand, such as theft and drugs,
the Greeks have the greater responsibility (Ethnos, 25.10.2000). A report
submitted by the ministry of Public Order to the President of the Greek
Parliament, indicates a high share of foreigners in organized crime, pointing
out the particular threat of Albanian, Russian and Turkish gangs (1998).
It is very disturbing that, according to the special Juvenile Tribunal of
Athens, juvenile crime climbed up in the region of Attica, mostly Athens
conurbation, by 23 per cent in 2001. Of the 5,106 cases processed by the
court, 4,885 concerned boys over half of which aged 13-17 years. Robberies
increased by 23 per cent and violence (body injuries) by 14 per cent.
Driving misdemeanors went up by 56 per cent, beggaring 21 per cent, and
theft 9 per cent. Drugs concerned only 5 per cent of the cases in the Juvenile
court, but the problem is believed to be in reality much more severe. Most
of young criminals have a low educational level, including dropouts and
they come from disturbed families, living mostly in the poor
neighbourhoods of Greater Athens. There is a great concern about the
criminality of teenagers 15-19 years of age that is related to drugs. Some
consider TV as a major causing factor, acquainting youth with crime as a
means of success. Data show that the deaths o youngsters below 17 caused
by the use of drugs have increased, in ten years’ time, 1987-97, by a factor
of 11, while the access to drugs of 16 year olds increased 20 times, between
1991 and 1997, and of people of all ages the access has tripled.
FONDAZIONE CENSIS
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