In November 2025, media outlets published reports concerning an allegation of police misconduct against a 13‑year‑old student.
According to EfSyn, the child was ‘arrested like a common criminal after being chased by police, even with the use of a drone, in yet another instance of state overreach.’ The report stated that the middle‑school student, who was detained while on his way to support a school occupation, was held overnight at a police station and questioned without the presence of his parents, allegedly because he had taken part in large student and university demonstrations across the country.
Police actions were denounced by the Parents’ and Guardians’ Union of the 7th Community of the Municipality of Athens, along with the charges brought against the student, which referred to property damage. Following the publication of the allegation, New Left MP Nasos Iliopoulos submitted a topical question in Parliament, seeking explanations from the government and calling for measures to protect minors from police misconduct.
In parliament, New Left denounced “the arbitrary arrest” of a 13‑year‑old student from the 23rd Middle School of Athens. The party described the case as an affront to the rule of law and evidence of “the government’s dangerous choice to respond with repression to the demands of students and teachers,” and called for a full investigation and accountability.
ELAS, in its briefing on the incident, presented a different account, stating that the 13‑year‑old had caused damage to public school property.
According to the police, “on the night of Wednesday, 5 November 2025, patrol officers of the DRASI unit received a call regarding individuals causing damage to a side door of the 46th Middle School of Athens. Officers arrived at the scene and, after searches, located a 13‑year‑old as a member of the group responsible for the damage and brought him to the Exarchia Crimes Investigation Unit, where a case file was opened for damage to property committed jointly.”
The police added that the preliminary investigation found extensive damage to the door. A crowbar was recovered nearby, which, according to local residents, had been used by the perpetrators. The student’s mother was immediately informed and arrived shortly afterwards. The 13‑year‑old was released on the morning of 6 November 2025 following a verbal order by the competent prosecutor and was then handed over to his mother.
In a state governed by the rule of law, police action must be guided by core principles such as legality, proportionality, the prohibition of abusive exercise of police power, and respect for human rights. The duties and conduct expected of police officers are regulated, among other instruments, by Presidential Decrees 538/1989, 141/1991 and 254/2004.
Although the police may use force when necessary to enforce the law and protect human rights, this does not mean that any preventive or repressive use of force is lawful. Arbitrary or excessive use of force, or action that exceeds legal limits, poses a serious risk to democratic governance.
In this case, the reports raise concerns about compliance with the legal framework governing the lawful operation of ELAS, particularly regarding the prevention of excessive and arbitrary violence against citizens. This issue must be investigated by the competent authorities and the judiciary.
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