HC Deb 25 March 1946 vol 421 c4
15. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Greek police bear arms; and whether they have borne arms since December, 1944.

Mr. McNeil

Both the town police and the gendarmerie are armed and have been armed since December, 1944. In the towns arms are not always carried by men on routine duties, such as traffic control, except when chiefs of police so order.

Mr. Blackburn

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the disarmament of the Greek police has been the Labour Party's policy since the Labour Party Conference in 1944?

Mr. McNeil

I cannot expect to place upon the sovereign Greek Government all the wishes—even the most excellent wishes—of the Labour Party.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Is not this country one of the very few European countries where the police are not armed?

Mr. Blackburn

Is it not the case that E.L.A.S. and E.A.M. were disarmed, without the semi-Fascist police being disarmed?

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