Originally Posted by
mmdough
Just a quick question: how bad is crime in Athens now? I last visited Greece in 2004 and I fell in love with this country. Going back in a couple weeks but heard that Athens had gone quite a bit downhill from 10 years ago.
The country has had a major economic crisis, and the country's unemployment/underemployment situation is much worse now than ten years ago.
Petty crime is worse than it used to be ten years ago.
Also, racists attacks and other discriminatory behavior against people of non-European ethnic heritages are also more frequently encountered now than they were ten years ago.
In the late fall of 2012, the US Department of State provided the following info for those concerned about visiting Greece (even as there was no recommendation to avoid travel to Greece):
United States Embassy Athens, Greece
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Safety and Security in Greece November 16, 2012
The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that the “Threats To Safety and Security” section of the Greece Country Specific Information page has been updated to inform U.S. citizens of a rise in unprovoked harassment and violent attacks against persons who, because of their complexion, are perceived to be foreign migrants. U.S. citizens most at risk are those of African, Asian, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern descent in Athens and other major cities. Please review the Country Specific Information for Greece.
Originally Posted by US Department of State
The U.S. Embassy has confirmed reports of U.S. African-American citizens detained by police authorities conducting sweeps for illegal immigrants in Athens.