Greek police hire out officers to raise cash

Struggling under the pressures of austerity, Greek police are offering a €30 (£25) per hour "cop-for-hire" scheme for private companies or citizens seeking protection at special events.

Police said the service was provided only under special circumstances, such as cases of high-security risk, and that revenues would be used to fund police equipment and boost the state budget. It used to be available for free before a debt crisis hit the country.

"We will provide these services only in exceptional cases and only if we have the available assets and staff," Thanassis Kokkalakis, a police spokesman, said yesterday.