Within the context of designing innovative policing techniques that would build up trust and create friendly relations between the public and the police, as well as combating crime more effectively, Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis has announced “The hour of the Citizen, organizations and social partners” initiative, which is to be launched on a pilot basis as of this Monday at 14 selected police stations in Attica, Thessaloniki, Patra, Halkida, Rhodes, Iraklio, Ioannina and Larisa. The program involves meetings of members of the public with police station chiefs twice a month, in order to voice their views and proposals on various issues concerning the local community.  In cases an issue falls under the remit of another branch of the police force, this will be officially forwarded for further handling, while issues of broader local interest will be forwarded to the Local Council for the Prevention of Delinquency. After two months of pilot run, the program will be extended throughout the country, improved and modified where necessary.