16 people were arrested for violations involving, among other things, occupying the beach with umbrella seats
Against the background of the movement for free beaches that grows and counts daily victories, are realized intensive checks to comply with the legislation regarding beach use, verifying violations and applying the automatic procedure at the expense of business owners/managers that are active in the specific sector.
In the context of this three-day period from 4 to 6 August 2023 in the Cyclades and Ionian Islands 16 people were arrested by local police services as owners/responsible/legal representatives of stores, who were found to be in violation of the above provisions.
According to a police announcement, the violations related to occupying the beach with umbrella seats without permission from the competent Authority, license exceeded through occupation extra space by the grantee, use of space falling under protective devices of archeology and obstruction of access to the sea through placement ocar seats at a distance of less than 5m. from the coastline.
More detail:
At Mykonos:
• a business manager was arrested who had placed 26 sets of umbrella seats on a beach in an area of 300 sq.m. lacking a relevant license,
• the manager of a health store was arrested who had installed a set of umbrella seats in a 300 sq.m. area. lacking a relevant license,
• the manager of a health store was arrested as he had placed 133 sets of umbrella seats on a beach in an area of 1,100 sq.m. exceeding by 600 sq.m. beach use permit,
• a business manager was arrested who had installed 65 sets of umbrella seats in an area of 1000 sq.m., wooden floor 80 sq.m. with a bar on it 20 sq.m., 2 product storage areas 20 sq.m. and wooden pergola 80 sq.m. lacking a relevant license.
In Syros:
• the owner of a store of health interest was arrested who used the seafront in excess of 10 sq.m. of the relevant license, while in addition he had placed 7 sets of umbrella seats at a distance of less than 5m. from the coastline thus preventing free public access to the sea,
• the manager of a health store who had placed 10 sets of umbrella seats at a distance of less than 5m was temporarily arrested. from the coastline thus preventing free public access to the sea,
• the owner of a store of health interest was arrested, who used the seafront in excess of 10 sq.m. of the relevant license, while in addition he had placed 10 sets of umbrella seats at a distance of less than 5m. from the coastline thus preventing free public access to the sea.
In Milos:
• the manager of a health store was temporarily arrested for placing 41 sets of umbrella seats, 20 sunshade structures and 17 “pouf” type seats with 5 tables in a demarcated zone of an archaeological site, without the relevant permits,
• the manager of a health store was temporarily arrested for placing 35 sets of umbrella seats and a bench with 2 chairs in a demarcated zone of an archaeological site, without the relevant permits.
In Serifos, the owner of a mobile canteen was arrested for having deployed wooden umbrellas and sunbeds on the sand without a relevant permit.
In Zakynthos:
• a restaurant-bar manager who had installed 30 sets of umbrella seats without a relevant license was temporarily arrested,
• a restaurant-bar owner was arrested who had installed 60 sets of umbrella seats without a relevant permit,
• a restaurant-bar owner was arrested who had installed 30 sets of umbrella seats without a relevant permit.
In Corfu, the manager of a store of health interest who has installed 10 sets of umbrella seats without a relevant license was arrested.
In Kefalonia, the owner of a health care store who has installed 15 sets of umbrella seats without a relevant license was arrested.
In all cases, the co-competent Services are informed of their own further actions.
Targeted controls to observe the legality of beaches will continue.
