BASIC EDUCATION OF POLICE OFFICERS IN GREECE: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The article is devoted to highlighting the features of basic police education in modern Greece. It was found that such education is provided at the Police Academy of Greece at the Faculty of Police Officer Training with a four-year training period. The purpose of police education is to provide students with knowledge, to form skills and abilities, and to train moral qualities and rules of behavior that will allow them to ensure safety, overcome crisis situations, prevent crimes in particular, and protect society in general. The author analyzes the entrant selection system which, in addition to the results of an external independent assessment, necessarily involves the successful passing of preliminary tests: a psychological test followed by an interview, a medical examination and a physical fitness test. Those who cannot pass at least one of the tests are not allowed to enter the Academy. The curriculum for police officers and the system of extracurricular activities are analyzed. It was found that during the four years of studying, future law enforcement officers are taught mainly the disciplines of special education and particular attention is paid to fire and physical training. A significant place in the curriculum belongs to different types of law with a special emphasis on criminal law and process. We also consider teaching a foreign language for three years to be positive, which contributes to the preparation of future police officers to work with foreign citizens. In general, the list of educational disciplines and additional curricular and extracurricular activities is aimed at the development and improvement of such key competencies and social skills (soft skills) as: communicative competence, decision-making skills, teamwork, creativity, flexibility, problem solving, etc. The peculiarities of ensuring the quality of education and the peculiarities of the selection of scientific and pedagogical staff of the Faculty of Police Officer Training were studied.