Public relations in the Hellenic Police in the period between 1984 and 2002
Authors: Skoulas, E. and Theofilou, A.
Pages: 25-41
DOI: 10.4324/9781003397199-3
Abstract:The case of the Hellenic Police (HP) as a governmental entity and the role of public relations (PR) in the communication process of the organisation is an understudied area in Greece. This chapter aims to explore PR practices by HP in the late 20th century with a specific focus on the period between 1984 and 2002, when PR became a more centralised field of practice in the context of the organisation’s functions and operations. This period is considered to be a period of ‘modernisation’ for HP and lays between 1984, which marks the year of reform of the Greek police involving the merge of the two historically independent police forces in Greece (namely the Gendarmerie and the Cities Police), and 2002, which is the era of professionalisation for communication in the HP after the dismantlement of the terrorist group on 17 November. The professionalisation of communication took place through the establishment of the Press Office of the HP, which became the focal point of communication and the main point of contact of all key publics. he discussion is framed by looking into the nexus between PR and the modernisation of HP by looking at it from the perspective of the broader social change in Greece and the need for communication. Ultimately, the chapter will try to shed light on the effort of PR to inhabit a new societal space and to initiate a new model of social interactions through communication.
Source: Scopus