New security measures introduced after last month’s shooting inside an appeals court chamber have changed the morning routine for citizens.
At the entrance of the Athens Court of First Instance, visitors now queue from 8.30 a.m. as guards enforce stricter checks, requiring entry one by one and removal of any metal items before screening.
While many acknowledge the need for tighter security, frustration is growing over long waits in the rain, limited shelter, and a sense that the changes were introduced without sufficient consideration for everyday court users.
As witness Maria Leventeri put it: “Let’s face it, the average citizen doesn’t count. A measure is passed and they simply tell you, ‘deal with it’.”
Others, including legal professionals, say the measures were long overdue.
