CHAPTER I

PURPOSE – SUBJECT MATTER

Article 92

Purpose

The objectives of this Part are to facilitate the design and implementation of training programmes for staff in the civilian sector of the judicial police for the best possible performance of their duties, to facilitate the rational allocation and use of staff in the police sector of the judicial police and to directly staff the civilian sector of the judicial police.

Article 93

Subject matter

The purpose of this Part is to amend Law 4963/2022 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 149), in particular:

a) the amendment of Article 33, concerning the induction and training of judicial police personnel;

the amendment of Article 39 on the transfer of judicial police personnel;

c) the amendment of Article 60, concerning the transitional provisions of this Law;

d) the addition of Articles 60A to 60E on the holding of a written competition for the filling of posts for staff in the political sector of the judicial police during the first application of Law 4963/2022.

CHAPTER II

TRAINING SEMINARS FOR STAFF IN THE POLITICAL SECTOR OF THE JUDICIAL POLICE

Article 94

Training seminars for staff in the political sector of the Judicial Police – Addition of paragraph 2A and amendment of Article 33(3) of Law 4963/2022

1. The following paragraph 2A is added to Article 33 of Law 4963/2022 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 149) on induction and training of judicial police staff:

‘2A. The training seminars referred to in the second sentence of paragraph 1 for staff in the civil sector of the Judicial Police shall be implemented, in person or online, by the National School of Judicial Officers and shall be of at least six (6) weeks’ duration. The Director-General and the Director of Financial Planning and Supervision of Financial Affairs, respectively, shall be responsible for the implementation of their physical and financial object. The content of the seminars and the way in which they are conducted shall be determined by decision of the Director-General of the School and any other matter relating to their implementation that entails financial consequences by decision of the Director of Financial Planning and Supervision of Financial Affairs of the School. The allowances and fees of trainers and working groups of training seminars shall be paid in accordance with Article 52 of Law 4871/2021 (A΄ 246) and the decisions issued pursuant to it. Travel expenses shall be paid to the persons referred to in the previous sentence and to the participants in the training seminars, in accordance with subpar. D9 of Article 2(D) of Law 4336/2015 (GG I 94).’

2. Article 33(3) of Law 4963/2022 is amended as follows: a) the word ‘police officer’ is added before the word ‘staff’, b) the words ‘and the costs of training seminars for its civilian staff from resources of the National School of Judges, in accordance with Article 4(1) of Law 4871/2021’ are added and paragraph 3 is worded as follows:

‘3. The costs of induction training for police personnel of the Judicial Police shall be covered by appropriations from the budget of the Ministry of Justice and the costs of training seminars for its civilian staff from resources of the National School of Judicial Officers, in accordance with Article 4(1) of Law 4871/2021.’

CHAPTER C

RECIPROCAL TRANSFER OF POLICE STAFF OF THE JUDICIAL POLICE SECTOR

Article 95

Mutual transfer of police personnel of the judicial police – Amendment of Article 39(1) of Law 4963/2022

Article 39(1) of Law 4963/2022 (GG I 149) on the transfer of judicial police staff is amended as follows: a) the words "and c) for mutual transfer" are deleted, b) a second subparagraph is added and paragraph 1, after legislative improvements, is formulated as follows:

‘1. A transfer within the same area shall be permitted at the request of the official only where there is a vacancy: a) for health reasons and b) for co-service. Reciprocal transfer shall be permitted at the request of an official of the police department of the judicial police to an organic post of an official of the same category, grade, branch and sector.’;

CHAPTER D

WRITTEN COMPETITION FOR THE FULFILLING OF POSITIONS IN THE POLITICAL SECTOR OF THE JUDICIAL POLICE UNDER THE FIRST APPLICATION OF LAW 4963/2022

Article 96

Filling of posts for staff in the political sector of the judicial police – Transitional arrangement – Addition of Article 60(1A), (1B) and (1C) of Law 4963/2022

Paragraphs 1A, 1B and 1C are added to Article 60 of Law 4963/2022 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 149) on the transitional provisions of that Law as follows:

‘1A. The posts in categories PE and TE of the civil sector of the Judicial Police that remain vacant during the first application of this Law shall be filled by staff selected through a written competition conducted by the National School of Judicial Officers.

1B. As regards the qualifications and obstacles to participation in the competition referred to in paragraph 1A, Articles 6, on nationality, 7, on the age of appointment, 8, on fulfilment of military obligations, 9, on health, 11, on criminal conviction and trial, 12, on judicial assistance, and 13, on dismissal from another post for disciplinary reasons, shall apply. As regards the duration of the qualification and the absence of any impediments, Article 14, concerning the duration of the appointment conditions, shall apply.

1C. The formal qualifications for appointment shall be those provided for in Article 19.’;

Article 97

Notice of written competition for the filling of posts in the civil sector of the judicial police – Addition of Article 60A to Law 4963/2022

Article 60A is added to Law 4963/2022 (GG I 149) as follows:

‘Article 60A

Publication of a competition for posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police

1. The notice of competition referred to in Article 60(1A), issued by the Minister for Justice, shall specify: a) the total number of posts advertised, b) the posts to be filled per category, branch, specialisation and regional service, c) the qualifications to participate in the competition, d) the time of the competition and e) the deadline for submission of applications and the supporting documents proving the qualifications to participate in the competition, which may not be less than ten (10) days from the publication of the notice.
2. The programme, the syllabus to be examined, the procedure, the appointment of supervisors, as well as any other relevant matter relating to candidates, the terms and conditions of the competition, shall be determined by decision of the Examination Board referred to in Article 60B, with the exception of the examination centres designated by the National School of Judicial Officers. The decisions of the Committee of Inquiry are posted on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the National School of Judges.
3. Candidates submit applications to participate in the competition electronically to the secretariat of the National School of Judges, which have the character of solemn declarations. With the applications, they declare only one (1) category, in which they wish to compete, such as University Education (PE) or Technological Education (TE) category, as well as one specialty, depending on their formal qualifications. The application shall be accompanied by the supporting documents proving that they have met the qualifications and that there are no obstacles referred to in Article 60(1B) and (1C).
4. The candidate's health is attested by opinions, submitted electronically with the application: a) a general practitioner or general practitioner in accordance with Article 7(2) of the Code on the Status of Civilian Administrators and Employees of Legal Entities governed by Public Law (Law 3528/2007, A΄ 26) and b) a psychiatrist in a psychiatric clinic of a state or university hospital or his legal deputy. If the candidate is found to have a lack of physical or mental skills, it shall be examined whether or not this lack hinders the performance of his/her duties.
5. Within ten (10) days after the deadline for submitting applications for participation in the competition, the Director-General of the National School of Judges shall draw up a list of candidates who are admitted to the competition and a list of excluded candidates. The above tables are posted on the website of the National School of Judges. An objection against the list of candidates, by those who are excluded from the competition, shall be lodged electronically within two (2) days of its posting. The appeal shall be decided on by the Committee of Inquiry no later than the day following that on which it is lodged. The final lists of participants in the competition shall be posted on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the National School of Judges.’.

Article 98

Examination Committee for a written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police – Addition of Article 60B to Law 4963/2022

Article 60B is added to Law 4963/2022 (GG I 149) as follows:

‘Article 60B

Committee of Inquiry for a written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police

1. The competition referred to in Article 60(1A) shall be conducted by an Examining Committee set up by decision of the Minister for Justice, which shall be published in the Government Gazette.
2. The Committee shall consist of:

a) one (1) President of Administrative Courts of Appeal, with his/her legal deputy,

b) one (1) President of the Courts of Appeal of the civil and criminal courts, with his/her legal deputy,

c) one (1) Deputy of the Court of Auditors, with his/her legal alternate,

d) one (1) Prosecutor of Appeals, with his/her legal deputy,

one (1) adviser to the Supreme Council for Personnel Selection (ASEP), with legal training, with his/her alternate; and

one (1) lawyer with at least 20 years’ legal experience, with his/her alternate.

The committee is chaired by the most senior judge. The Committee shall have a quorum if four (4) members are present. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.

3. The members of the Examining Committee who have the status of judicial officer shall be appointed, with their alternates, by the Presidents of the Supreme Courts and the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, as appropriate. The A.S.E.P. Advisor, with his/her alternate, shall be appointed by the President of the A.S.E.P. The member who has the status of lawyer is appointed with his deputy by the President of the Plenary of the Presidents of the bar associations of the country.
4. The decision referred to in paragraph 1 shall appoint the secretary of the committee and his/her alternate. Registrar duties shall be assigned to an official of the National School of Judges.’.

Article 99

Conducting a written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police – Addition of Article 60C to Law 4963/2022

Article 60C is added to Law 4963/2022 (GG I 149) as follows:

‘Article 60C

Conduct of a written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police

1. The competition referred to in Article 60(1A), which is held in Thessaloniki, shall include a written examination, in the form of a written essay or multiple-choice subjects, on the following subjects, which shall be examined as follows:

a) a matter of general education,

b) a matter relating to the organisation and operation of courts and public prosecutor’s offices, which includes elements of the Code on the Organisation of Courts and the Status of Judges (Law 4938/2022, Government Gazette, Series I, No 109) and the Organic Law of the Court of Audit (Law 4820/2021, Government Gazette, Series I, No 130);

elements of constitutional and substantive and procedural criminal law.

The subjects referred to in point (b) shall be graded by the judicial officers and the subjects referred to in points (a) and (c) by all members of the Examination Committee referred to in Article 60B. The Chairman of the Examination Committee shall allocate the examination of the subjects in such a way that two (2) assessors correspond to each of the subjects examined. Each assessor prepares two (2) subjects for the subject to be scored for each category of examinees. On the day of the examinations, the Examining Committee meets and approves by a majority of two (2) of these issues. Its President, before all its members, carries out a lottery and the matter extracted from the lottery for each category is put to the examinations. The results of the competition shall be posted on the website of the National School of Judges.’.

Article 100

Scoreboard – Final Scoreboard and list of appointees of the written competition for the filling of posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police – Addition of Article 60D to Law 4963/2022

Article 60D is added to Law 4963/2022 (GG I 149) as follows:

"Article 60D

Scoreboard – Final Scoreboard and list of nominees for the written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police

1. The scoring scale for the written competition referred to in Article 60(1A) shall range from zero (0) to fifteen (15).
2. The marking of each written document shall be carried out by two (2) markers, in accordance with Article 60C. The indications of the individual elements of the contestants and the score of the first assessor are covered with opaque paper, which is removed before the selection board after the completion of the scoring in all thematic units. Any notes on the writing are forbidden. The average of the marks of the two (2) assessors is the candidate's grade. Candidates who scored an average of at least eight (8) written tests and none of them less than five (5) are considered to be successful candidates in the competition. The final grade of each candidate is obtained by taking into account the marks obtained in the three (3) written tests.
3. The final degree of success of each candidate shall be increased by one tenth (1/10) of the unit for each (1) postgraduate diploma, but not more than two (2), of a university school in Greece or abroad recognised by an act of a competent body or which has received recognition of professional equivalence from the Council for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (SAEP) or the Independent Department for the Implementation of European Legislation (ATEEN) of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport and by three tenths (3/10) of the unit for a doctoral diploma of a university school in Greece or abroad recognised by an act of a competent body or which has received recognition of professional equivalence from the Council for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (SAEP) or the Independent Department for the Implementation of European Legislation (ATEEN) of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport. If you hold a doctorate, the postgraduate diploma supplement is not added. The members of the Examination Board decide whether the conditions for an increase due to a master's or doctoral degree are met. Whether or not the diploma is related to the duties of staff in the civilian sector of the judicial police is irrelevant to that assessment by the Selection Board.
4. Only candidates who have obtained a final pass mark in the competition of at least eight (8) are included in the final scoreboard. After calculating the increments referred to in paragraph 3, candidates shall be ranked in rank in the table referred to in the first subparagraph and a list of appointees shall be drawn up. The list shall then be validated by the Examining Committee, sent to the Ministry of Justice, posted on the website of the National School of Judges and published in the Government Gazette.’

Article 101

Appointment of candidates included in the list of candidates for the written competition to fill posts in the civilian sector of the judicial police – Addition of Article 60E to Law 4963/2022

"Article 60E

Appointment of candidates on the list of candidates for the written competition to fill posts in the civil service of the judicial police

1. The candidates included in the list of candidates for the competition referred to in Article 60(1A) shall be appointed to the civilian sector of the Judicial Police, by decision of the body responsible for the appointment of the Ministry of Justice, in accordance with the Code on the Status of Civilian Civilian Administrative Officials and Officials of Legal Entities governed by Public Law (Law 3528/2007, Government Gazette, Series I, No 96). Service of the appointment decision is carried out by the public prosecutor’s office of the place of residence of the person appointed in accordance with Articles 155 to 165 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Law 4620/2019, Government Gazette, Series I, No 96). An extension of the swearing-in period is not allowed except in case of force majeure and for as long as the unforeseeable event lasts.
2. The Ministry of Justice searches ex officio for candidates invited for appointment the following supporting documents:

a copy of the criminal record for judicial use;

a certificate of military status for all men and women who have served in the armed forces;

a certificate from the public prosecutor's office stating that there is no criminal case pending against the appointee;

a certificate of non-admission to judicial assistance or prohibition;

e) a certificate that the candidate has not been dismissed from a public service post, a local authority or another legal person in the public sector due to the imposition of the disciplinary penalty of permanent cessation or due to the termination of the employment contract for a significant reason due to the fault of the employee.

3. Any gaps created by the failure to appoint candidates for any reason or the resignation of those appointed within one (1) year of their appointment shall be filled by decision of the body responsible for the appointment of the Ministry of Justice from the reserve list of the corresponding category of education.
4. The appointee must serve at the Judicial Police Service for at least five (5) years. If he resigns before the age of five, he shall reimburse the remuneration received during the induction training referred to in Article 33.’;