At least three detainee deaths have occurred in Greece in 2025, the most recent two days ago at the Peristeri police station. However, the actual number may be higher, as the Hellenic Police do not disclose data on deaths in custody, according to a journalistic investigation by “MIIR.”e
As part of a Europe-wide investigation into deaths in police custody, MIIR requested data from the Hellenic Police on the total number of deaths per year during police operations or detention (2010–2024), as well as deaths in police stations and suicides during the same period.
Despite submitting three inquiries, journalists received no response.
In the past six years, the National Mechanism for Investigating Incidents of Arbitrary Conduct (EMIDIPA) of the Ombudsman’s Office, responsible for such cases, has examined over 1,200 incidents, noting that these represent only a fraction of the total.
From 2020 to 2022, 13 EU countries reported 488 deaths in police custody or during operations.
Despite a 1991 UN recommendation for all countries to report police-related deaths, Greece still does not do so.
Among the 13 EU countries that publish such data, France has the highest number, with 107 deaths in custody or during police operations, followed by Ireland (71), Spain (66), and Germany (60).
Since 2010, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against EU countries 236 times for failing to investigate possible torture or mistreatment cases and 157 times for failing to investigate deaths in police custody and other contexts.
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