Drive to boost policing in Menidi after boy shot dead

A week after an 11-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet in Menidi, northwestern Athens, officials agreed Wednesday on the implementation of long-delayed measures to increase policing and curb widespread crime in the area.

During a meeting between Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas and the local mayor, Yiannis Kassavos, it was decided that the police presence in the area will be boosted immediately and a new "police service" set up under the auspices of the local authority to work with regular police units.

The effectiveness of the new drive is to be gauged every 10 days and in September the regional police precinct for western Attica will be moved from Aegaleo to the municipality of Fili, which is closer to Menidi.

We are optimistic and looking forward to that plan being realized," Kassavos told Kathimerini. "We are waiting to see concrete results,...