Greek police are to start hiring resident aliens, a government minister has announced.

Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas, according to a report in Ta Nea newspaper, cited the example of the U.K. which previously overturned a 170-year-old ban on foreign nationals from becoming British police officers.

“We are obliged to look at similar approaches in order to keep public order in the best possible way,” Toskas was quoted as saying. “It is difficult for a police officer to approach a group of immigrants or a minority when he does not speak the language. We have to adapt and not stay stuck to the attitudes of 50 years ago.”

“We need to adapt quickly. That is why legislative interventions will be needed,” the deputy minister added.

“We already have expatriates from Albania in our ranks. In the same way, we will get people from other social groups. Some things require immediate modernization,” Toskas said.

Source: http://greece.greekreporter.com/category/greek-news/tourism/