Zero to Hero: Police Training Across Greece for Safer Communities and Protected Animals

29.10.25

We were honoured to take part as expert presenters during four days of intensive police training, organised by the Zero Stray Academy in close collaboration with the Chief of the Hellenic Police and the Minister of Citizen Protection.

This important initiative is part of a growing movement across Greece to strengthen the link between animal welfare and community safety, a message at the heart of our campaign – “Protect Animals. Protect People.”

A Unique Model: Animal Welfare Under the Minister of Citizen Protection

Unlike in most countries, where animal welfare sits within agricultural or environmental departments, in Greece, it comes under the Minister of Citizen Protection.

This progressive approach recognises that animal cruelty and human violence are connected. Preventing cruelty is not only an act of compassion — it’s a matter of public safety.

By placing animal welfare within this ministry, Greece has made it possible for the police to take an active role in protecting animals and building safer communities, ensuring cruelty cases are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

Training Across Greece: Building Knowledge and Empathy

The four days of training took place over two locations:

Athens: Two days at the National Police Training College, with 154 officers in attendance.
Thessaloniki: Two days at the Northern Police Training College, with another 80 officers participating.

This in-person training builds upon the success of an online learning programme we helped develop, which has already reached over 1,560 police officers nationwide. This is a remarkable step forward in embedding animal welfare principles into Greek law enforcement culture.

Together, these sessions mark an important milestone.

A Decade of Progress

My first presentation to senior Hellenic Police officers – on the link between global wildlife trafficking and terrorism – took place in Athens back in 2015, in Athens.

It is deeply encouraging to reflect on how much has changed in the ten years since that initial conference.

Coincidentally, ten years is now also the maximum prison sentence for felony animal cruelty in Greece (such as torture or killing). This shows that Greece is moving forward towards zero tolerance for animal cruelty, recognising the vital connection between animal protection and public safety.

Training Focus: From Rescue to Prosecution

The sessions provided police officers with practical guidance on how to:

Rescue abandoned animals and coordinate with municipal or NGO partners for their care and rehoming.
Promote responsible pet ownership and community awareness to reduce neglect and abandonment.
Educate communities to encourage compassion and prevent cruelty before it starts.
Investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases, understanding both the legal procedures and the social importance of enforcing them.

At the heart of these lessons lies our campaign slogan: Protect Animals. Protect People. Research has consistently shown that individuals who harm animals are more likely to commit violence against humans. By addressing cruelty at its roots, police are helping to make communities safer for everyone.

A Shared Mission: “Protect Animals. Protect People.”

These training events were especially meaningful to us because the Hellenic Police themselves titled the sessions: «Προστατέψτε τα ζώα. Προστατέψτε τους ανθρώπους.» — which translates to “Protect Animals. Protect People.”

This phrase captures the very essence of our campaign and the spirit of compassionate policing that the Naturewatch Foundation has long advocated. Through education, empathy, and enforcement, Greek police officers are proving that protecting animals and protecting people are two sides of the same mission.

Looking Ahead

By sharing our expertise and helping embed animal protection into police training across Greece, we’re not just improving animal welfare, we’re creating safer, kinder communities for all beings.

Because when we protect animals, we truly protect people.

References

Naturewatch Foundation – Protect Animals. Protect People Campaign: www.naturewatch.org
Law 4830/2021 (Animal Welfare Act) is the main recent legislation on companion animals and cruelty. Under Article 24(1)(b) of that Law, cruelty including killing or torturing animals, or subjecting them to severe non-therapeutic harm (poisoning, burning, hanging, mutilation etc.), is punishable by imprisonment up to 10 years.
Zero Stray Academy – Police training and animal welfare education initiatives in Greece – https://www.zerostraypawject.org
Hellenic Police / Ministry of Citizen Protection – National programmes on animal welfare enforcement – https://www.astynomia.gr/i-elliniki-astynomia-symmetechei-sti-89i-diethni-ekthesi-thessalonikis/tmima-prostasias-zoon/

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