ND leader Samaras outlines policy on security, illegal immigration

Page last updated at 05:51 GMT, Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 10:51 EST

AMNA - New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras, addressing a special event at the Foundation of the Hellenic World on Tuesday, outlined the party's positions regarding the public safety and tackling of problem of illegal immigration in the country.

"Citizens' security is a condition for democracy, there is no freedom in the city if it cannot protect its citizens from fear. Without security fear reigns ... The citizens of Athens, of the Aghios Panteleimonas district (in central Athens), as well as of Patras and other cities are aware of this," Samaras said. "No one can be free when one is afraid for his or her family, from impunity and crime," he added.

He further said that there is the economic dimension to crime as well, since there can be no growth without security, as well as criticizing rampant bootleg street trade and an underground economy. "There can be no organized production when someone drives away businesses, closes down ports, etc."

The measures he presented to consolidate security include legal changes governing arrest procedures and the conviction of offenders, as per the standard procedure in other European countries, as he said. He also called for more neighborhood police patrols, alleviation of prison overcrowding, the deportation of foreign convicts, as well as a crackdown on so-called "low impact crime", which he said is a forerunner of more serious offenses.

On the question of illegal immigration, he said "economic migrants" have already broken the law by entering the country illegally.