Achaia police warn of service collapse amid staffing shortages

The Union of Police Officers of Achaia sent a letter to the Minister of Citizen Protection warning that the regional police force is heading toward a functional collapse. The appeal cites a wave of retirements that will see about 140 officers leave within the next 15 months, with more than 30 expected to retire this year alone.

The union says recent reinforcements, including routine transfers from January, are insufficient. It also criticises the staffing plan for the newly created Support Divisions, which will be filled exclusively by moving personnel from already understaffed units, stripping 28 positions from critical services. As a result, police stations in Patras cannot maintain permanent 24‑hour patrols, and key investigative and rapid‑response units operate with only a handful of officers.

Achaia’s permanent population exceeds 300,000, swelling seasonally due to airport traffic and ferry links to Italy and the Ionian islands, heightening policing demands. The union calls for a “generous reinforcement” with new recruits to meet the growing security needs of the region.