The Greek police unions denounce inhumane conditions at sea.
Police officers in Crete are on edge again. They’re preparing for the transport of a large group of undocumented migrants from the island to mainland Greece.
This time, the transfer uses a military vessel, the Chios. It’s set to sail from Chania to Kavala, a trip that drags on for more than 30 hours and, honestly, doesn’t inspire much confidence given the ship’s conditions.
Authorities have pulled in 20 officers from all over Crete. Ten come from Heraklion, five from Rethymno, and another five from Chania, all tasked with escorting the migrants on the journey.
Local police unions aren’t happy about any of this. They’ve even threatened to protest at the ship’s entry point if the order to carry out the voyage isn’t cancelled.
Representatives from the island’s police unions and the national officers’ association recently traveled to Athens. They met with a ministry aide at the Ministry of Public Order, laying out just how unhappy the officers are with the conditions aboard the military ship, and making it clear they’d demonstrate unless the transfer order gets scrapped.
The ministry, though, says the transfer will go ahead as planned. There’s just not enough time to reschedule, apparently.
Officials do say they’ll try to improve the conditions for everyone on board. For future transfers, they’re talking about hiring a passenger ferry instead, which, honestly, seems overdue.
The police unions have gone public with their criticism. Moving hundreds of migrants with just 20 officers doesn’t sit right with them, and they’ve condemned the conditions during the journey as inhumane.
Key Details |
|
|---|---|
Transport vessel |
Military ship Chios |
Route |
From Chania (Crete) to Kavala |
Duration of journey |
Over 30 hours |
Number of migrants transported |
Several hundred |
Police officers escorting |
20 officers from various areas |
Conditions raised concerns |
Overcrowding, inadequate facilities |
Planned future changes |
Use of passenger ferry |
This incident throws the spotlight on bigger issues in migrant management and how resources get allocated for these large-scale transfers.
Officers who have to accompany these journeys say they’re frustrated. They argue the current setup just doesn’t meet operational or humanitarian standards.
Using a military vessel for this kind of transfer isn’t normal in Greece. Military ships are built for defense, not for shuttling people, so comfort and safety really take a hit on these long trips.
Local police groups keep up the pressure on authorities, voicing concerns about working conditions and how migrants get treated during these complicated operations. The whole situation just highlights the ongoing headaches Greece faces in managing migration between the islands and the mainland.
If you want more details about the transfer, the military vessel, and the police opposition, check out the latest transfer.
