The plan for dealing with violence inside and outside the playing fields was developed, before the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament, by Justice Minister Anna Koukkidi-Prokopiou. She stressed that the Ministry's approach is holistic and people-centred, since in addition to the immediate measures already decided by the Council of Ministers, the planning includes long-term prevention measures.
Ms Prokopiou stressed that the Ministry of Justice has already been in contact with the Ministry of Education and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, with the aim of developing a social programme for the prevention of violence inside and outside the playing fields. To this end, an advisory group is being set up, consisting, inter alia, of sociologists, psychologists and rehabilitation specialists, since it has been established that drug use is directly linked to incidents of violence in sports arenas.
The Minister of Justice noted that the incidents in the basketball match between Anorthosis and Apollon made it necessary to take immediate repressive measures and pointed out that in the matches following the incidents everything went smoothly due to the action taken by the Police.
Ms Prokopiou welcomed the fact that at the meeting held at the Ministry of Justice there was agreement on the measures by all the bodies involved and that it was agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding, which will determine how each body will act.
On the infrastructure of the stadiums, he noted that the Police has completed an investigation into the shortcomings in the open stadiums and is proceeding with a similar investigation into the indoor sports halls.
The Minister of Justice and Public Order also expressed readiness for full cooperation with the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, before which the measures requiring legislative amendment will be analysed in the near future.
It was also agreed that the Minister of Justice would inform the Legal Affairs Committee every two months on the progress of the implementation of measures against violence inside and outside sports venues.
(NΓ/EXP)
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