Greek Police Set to Integrate AI in Operations for Greater Efficiency

The Greek police force is preparing to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance its operations, aiming to improve efficiency in solving crimes, addressing offenses like theft, and preventing illegal activities.

This initiative, led by the Ministry of Citizen Protection in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Governance, marks a significant step towards modernizing a police force still largely reliant on traditional methods. The introduction of AI technology is expected to expedite investigative processes and improve their accuracy.

One of the key areas where AI will make an impact is in crime investigations. For instance, tasks that currently take days or even weeks—such as analyzing CCTV footage for theft clues—could be completed in a matter of minutes using AI.

Additionally, AI will assist in managing traffic violations and handling cases of violence, including domestic abuse. In certain situations, AI could quickly determine if an aggressor has a gun license, enabling police to act more swiftly and safely.

The drive for modernization gained momentum last October when Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Konstantinos Kyranakis, attended a closed meeting in Washington, chaired by Google CEO Thomas Kurian, alongside officials from nine other countries.

Following the meeting, Kyranakis briefed Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis on the potential of AI technologies for law enforcement, which led to the green light for the project.

Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou subsequently secured funding for the initiative through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility as part of an agreement between Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance and Google.

The Greek police will begin incorporating AI technology into their services soon, although full implementation will take time. This will depend on the ongoing digitization of police records and infrastructure.