Wealthy Greeks set to pay for police protection under latest cuts

ATHENS, Greece – Greeks earning more than 100,000 euros ($132,500) a year will have to pay for their own police protection from potential terrorist and organized crime attacks, under new cost-cutting plans.

The Public Order Ministry said Tuesday that wealthy citizens will have to pay 2,000 euros ($2,650) per month for each officer acting as a bodyguard and a daily fee of 50 euros for use of a patrol car.

Ongoing attacks by far-left and anarchist militant groups have stretched police budgets along with repeated government spending cuts in the crisis-hit country.

The new pay-for-protection scheme still requires Finance Ministry approval and will not include elected officials or public sector executives.

Bailed-out Greece is suffering through a sixth year of recession, worsened by years of austerity measures demanded by rescue lenders.