The Cyprus Police (
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
: ), is the National
Police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
Service of the
Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
and is under the
Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993.
The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus Police are set out in the amended Police Law (N.73(1)) of 2004 and include the maintenance of Law and Order, the prevention and detection of crime as well as arresting and bringing offenders to justice.
History
Although the history of
Law enforcement in Cyprus
The Cyprus Police (Greek: ), is the National Police Service of the Republic of Cyprus and is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993.
The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus Police are set out in the amended Police Law ( ...
goes back to 1879 when the first Police Law was passed by the then British Colonial Government, which operated a mounted gendarmerie force known as the
Cyprus Military Police
In 1878, the British colonial administration of British Cyprus, Cyprus raised a Gendarmerie force, the Cyprus Military Police (CMP), replacing the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman local police force of Zaptiehs. The popular designation for members of the ...
, the history of the Cyprus Police begins with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.
In 1960 two Public Security Forces were established within the framework of the Constitution: the Police Force, which was responsible for policing the
urban area
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities, t ...
s, and the
Gendarmerie
Wrong info! -->
A gendarmerie () is a military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to " men-at-arms" (literally, ...
, which was responsible for policing
rural
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are describ ...
areas. A Greek-Cypriot Chief and a Turkish-Cypriot Chief administered the two Forces respectively.
The two forces of the police were joined to form the present police service during the year 1964, shortly after the
intercommunal troubles between the Greek and the Turkish communities, as a result of which the Turkish Cypriot officers abandoned their posts.
Additionally the conflict created great problems for the police, who had to handle the situation, along with the then sparsely manned Cypriot Army, because it was the only organized force.
With the creation of the
Cypriot National Guard
, name2 = National Guard General Staff
, image = Emblem of the Cypriot National Guard.svg
, image_size = 100px
, caption = Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus
, image2 = Flag of the ...
in 1964, the duties of military nature were transferred to the National Guard and the police was limited back to its usual duties.
[Κυβερνητική Πύλη Διαδικτύου]
Also notable is that a museum dedicated to the history of the Cyprus Police and Law enforcement in Cyprus in general exists, with a history of its own. The
Cyprus Police Museum
The Cyprus Police Museum is a museum in Cyprus, dedicated to the history of law enforcement in the country. It is owned by the Cyprus Police and managed by Department A' of the Police Headquarters.
The Police Museum is open to the public from Mon ...
, owned by the Cyprus Police and managed by the Department A' of the Police Headquarters is open to the general public.
Authorities
The Cyprus Police operates and exercises its authorities throughout the territory of the Republic of Cyprus based on the following Laws and Regulations:
* The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
* Police Law (N.73(I)/2004)
[Police Law (N.73(I)/2004)]
* Police Regulations
* Police Standing Orders
* Criminal Code Cap.154
* Criminal Procedure Law Cap.155
* Evidence Law Cap-9
* The Processing of Personal Data (Protection of the Individual) Law 138(1)/2001
The legal framework within which the Cyprus Police exists and operates is determined by the Constitution, Police Law Cap.285 and other laws that provide the authority for investigation, detention, arrest, questioning and prosecution of offenders of the Law.
Structure and organisation
The structure and organisation of the Cyprus Police is governed by Police
Ordinance
Ordinance may refer to:
Law
* Ordinance (Belgium), a law adopted by the Brussels Parliament or the Common Community Commission
* Ordinance (India), a temporary law promulgated by the President of India on recommendation of the Union Cabinet
* ...
1/10 and is formed as stated below:
Headquarters
The Police Headquarters is divided into different Departments/Directorates/Services and Units, each specializing in a different field/aspect of policing.
Departments
*Department A' (Administration)
*Department B' (Traffic, Transport)
*Department C' (Criminal Investigations, Prosecutors)
*Department D' (Scientific & Technical Support)
*Research and Development Department
Directorates
*European Union & International Police Cooperation Directorate
*Materials & Supplies Management Directorate
*Airports Security Directorate
*Finance Directorate
*Directorate of Professional Standards
Services
*Aliens & Immigration Service
*Drug Law Enforcement Service
*Forensic Investigations Service
*Audit & Inspection Service
*Central Intelligence Service
Units
*
Cyprus Police Academy
tr, Kıbrıs Polis Akademisi
, image_name = Cyprus Police Academy New Logo.jpg
, image_size = 230
, image_alt =
, caption = Cyprus Police Academy Logo (since 2011)
, latin_name =
, motto = ...
*
Emergency Response Unit
An Emergency Response Unit is a name for a law enforcement or other civil government entity that is trained and equipped to respond quickly to emergency situations. In some instances, such a designation is given to a Special Weapons and Tactics uni ...
*Presidential Guard Unit
*
Port & Marine Police
*
Cyprus Police Aviation Unit
The Cyprus Police Aviation Unit (CPAU) ( el, Μονάδα Αεροπορικών Επιχειρήσεων (Μ.Α.ΕΠ.), is the police aviation unit of the Headquarters of Cyprus Police, the national police of the Republic of Cyprus and was estab ...
(Previously named Police Air Wing)
Divisions
![Cyprus police](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Cyprus_police.jpg)
The Cyprus Police has one Division for each district of Cyprus. Under this divisions are the Police Stations but also within each Police Division, branches can be created similar to the branches of the Police Headquarters. For example, there is a Headquarters Drug Law Enforcement Service but also a Nicosia, Limassol etc. Drug Law Enforcement Service. Other examples include Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.)- Larnaca, Nicosia, Limassol etc. C.I.D. and Headquarters Traffic Department - Nicosia, Limassol etc. Traffic Department . The difference is that the Headquarters units/services etc. operate throughout the territory of the Cyprus Republic while the divisional (provincial) units/services operate mostly within the District that are located.
*
Nicosia
Nicosia ( ; el, Λευκωσία, Lefkosía ; tr, Lefkoşa ; hy, Նիկոսիա, romanized: ''Nikosia''; Cypriot Arabic: Nikusiya) is the largest city, capital, and seat of government of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaor ...
*
Limassol
Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
*
Larnaca
Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144 ...
*
Famagusta
Famagusta ( , ; el, Αμμόχωστος, Ammóchostos, ; tr, Gazimağusa or ) is a city on the east coast of Geography of Cyprus, Cyprus. It is located east of Nicosia District, Nicosia and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. Duri ...
*
Paphos
Paphos ( el, Πάφος ; tr, Baf) is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos.
The current city of Pap ...
*
Keryneia
Kyrenia ( el, Κερύνεια ; tr, Girne ) is a city on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. It is under the ''de facto'' control of Northern Cyprus.
While there is evidence showing that the wider region ...
*
Morphou
Morphou ( el, Μόρφου; tr, Omorfo or ) is a town in the northwestern part of Cyprus, under the ''de facto'' control of Northern Cyprus. It is the administrative center of the Güzelyurt District of Northern Cyprus. Having been a predominantl ...
*
''Fire Service'' - The Fire Service used to operate as an independent Division based in Nicosia but with national coverage up to 15/10/2021 that was established as an independent service.
[CyLaw ]
''Because of the
Turkish invasion
The 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, code-named Operation Peace Spring ( tr, Barış Pınarı Harekâtı) by Turkey, was a cross-border military operation conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Arm ...
and continuing occupation, the Police Divisional Headquarters of Famagusta and Morphou are temporarily housed in Paralimni and Evrychou respectively, while the Kyrenia Police Division has temporarily suspended its operation.''
[Cyprus Police Official Website ]
Emergency Response Unit
The Emergency Response Unit (E.R.U) ( el, Μηχανοκίνητη Μονάδα Άμεσης Δράσης; Μ.Μ.Α.Δ., Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis; MMAD)) is a unit of the Cyprus Police, the national
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
of the
Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
. The mission and responsibilities of the Emergency Response Unit are closely interwoven with the security of the State, the maintenance of law and order and the provision of help and services to the public. The characteristic features of this unit are discipline, training, team-work, team-spirit and thorough organisation. Its Commander is accountable to the Chief of Police through the Assistant Chief of Police in charge of Support.
The Emergency Response Unit, known up until recently as the Mobile Immediate Action Unit, which was a direct translation of its name in Greek, was set up in 1978 after a government decision. The Government at the time responded to an increase in
terrorism
Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as to a number of
incidents
''Incidents'' is a 1987 collection of four essays by Roland Barthes. It was published posthumously by François Wahl, Barthes' literary executor.
Summary
In the first essay, ''La Lumiere du Sud-Ouest'', first published in ''L'Humanité'' in 1977 ...
of terrorism that took place in Cyprus. The first commander of the unit was
Costas Papacostas
Costas Papacostas ( el, Κώστας Παπακώστας; 12 November 1939 – 21 September 2015) was the Cypriot Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2011. Following the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion he resigned as Minister of Defence an ...
, a
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
Major, who was transferred to the Police. Moreover, the first members of the unit had previous service in the Special Forces of the
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
.
Mission
The primary mission of the Emergency Response Unit is the operational support of policing throughout the Republic in combating organised, violent acts or crimes such as terrorism. It is also responsible for providing protection to VIPs and suppressing riots.
The secondary mission of the Emergency Response Unit is the provision of aid, services and rescue in cases of natural disasters or major accidents.
The unit also supports all other police departments and divisional headquarters in carrying out their operations.
Structure and organization
The Emergency Response Unit is split into several branches to better handle the operations that are assigned to the Unit.
Personnel
Ranks and insignia
Below is a table showing the Cyprus
police rank
Police ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships in police organizations. The rank system defines authority and responsibility in a police organization, and affects the culture within the police force. Police ranks, dependent on country, ar ...
s in hierarchical order along with their identification markings and insignia.
Special Constable
Special Constables are recruited separately from regular Constables and in accordance with Article 39 of the Police Law (N.73 (I) / 2004) they are recruited for clerical and auxiliary duties, guard duties of publicly owned buildings and facilities, VIPs and foreign missions protection and for the delivery and execution of court orders and / or any other orders.
Article 41 of the Police Law (N.73 (I) / 2004) states that any Special Constable appointed under this Act, shall perform the duties assigned to him and, in the exercise of his duties, has same powers, the same privileges, the same protection and is subject to the same penalties and to the same principles as regular Constables.
Special Constables are usually referred to as "Special", even in Greek, and rarely as "" (usually in more formal references) which is short for the Greek title "". The
curriculum
In education, a curriculum (; : curricula or curriculums) is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view ...
of Special Constables at the Police Academy is less than the curriculum of regular Constables and also shorter in duration. The pay grade that the Special Constables enter the police is lower in relation to the pay grade that the regular Constables enter.
A Special Constable cannot be "promoted to a regular Constable". Instead Special Constables wishing to enter the Cyprus Police as regular Constables have to go through the same recruitment process as anyone else, including any written or physical condition exams, irrelevant of the years that they have been already working in the Cyprus Police and irrelevant of the fact that they might be transferred after completion of their training as regular Constables back to the position they were serving as Special Constables. An exception on the age of entry was made for Special Constables that were already serving in the police before the enforcement of Police Law of 2004. The enrolment age restrictions for regular Constables, applies to Special Constables wishing to enroll as regular Constables if they were recruited after the date that the Police Law of 2004 was enforced.
Constable
Constable is the entry rank in the Cyprus Police. This rank represents the largest percentage of Police Officers serving in the Cyprus Police. All police officers begin their careers at this rank (with the exception of the specialized personnel that enter the police under a different agreement).
Senior Constable
A Senior Constable is not considered a promotion. Senior Constables are Constables assigned duties higher to their rank level, they are called Senior Constables and bear the distinctive insignia. To become a Senior Constable a Constable must meet the following requirements:
[Regulation 51/1989 - Κανονιστική Διοικητική Πράξη 51/1989]
#They have completed 12 years of service and have passed the examination for promotion to the rank of Sergeant
#During the last two years they have not been imposed with a penalty greater than "severe reprimand" for a disciplinary offence and
#they have been recommended by the officer in charge of their Unit as suitable and well trained in police duties
Acting Sergeant / Acting Sergeant Senior Constable
Under Regulation 213/2004, the Chief of Police may, at any time he considers that the needs of the service so require for a short period of time, to select any Constable who is qualified for promotion to Sergeant and assign him to Sergeant duties for a period not exceeding three months but in no event exceeding for the same person a total of two years. Such a person is called Acting Sergeant. After this time period ends, this person reverts to the rank of Constable or Senior Constable respectively, depending on what he was before his assignment as Acting Sergeant. Before the implementation of Regulation 213/2004 this appointment was permanent and not temporary. In 2019 the Rank and Rank Insignia of Acting Sergeant Senior Constable was abolished.
Sergeant
Sergeant is the first rank a Constable is promoted to. Usually sergeants are in charge of a specific shift at a police station, a squad or a small team.
Senior Sergeant
A Senior Sergeant is not considered a promotion. Senior Sergeants are Sergeants assigned duties higher to their rank level, they are called Senior Sergeants and bear the distinctive insignia. To become a Senior Sergeant a Sergeant must meet the following requirements:
#They have completed 8 years of service at the rank of Sergeant and have passed the examination for promotion to the rank of Inspector
#During the last two years they have not been imposed with a penalty greater than "severe reprimand" for a disciplinary offence and
#they have been recommended by the officer in charge of their Unit as suitable and well trained in police duties
Education and training
All police constables (PCs) have to attend a three-year course at the
Cyprus Police Academy
tr, Kıbrıs Polis Akademisi
, image_name = Cyprus Police Academy New Logo.jpg
, image_size = 230
, image_alt =
, caption = Cyprus Police Academy Logo (since 2011)
, latin_name =
, motto = ...
, which is recognized as a higher education institution.
[KY.S.A.T.S. Website ] The course alternates between theory at the Police Academy and practical training in the field. Special police constables (SPCs) also attend the police academy for a seventeen-week course. All PCs and SPCs, as part of their training attend the Special Training Center of the
Emergency Response Unit
An Emergency Response Unit is a name for a law enforcement or other civil government entity that is trained and equipped to respond quickly to emergency situations. In some instances, such a designation is given to a Special Weapons and Tactics uni ...
for firearms training and other physical forms of training.
[Cyprus Police]
The highly variable field of law enforcement demands and highly promotes continuing education. For this reason police officers of all ranks continue attending courses throughout their careers. Such courses are conducted by the Cyprus Police Academy
or by foreign training agencies such as the
FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...
National Academy and the National Security School of the
Greek Police
The Hellenic Police ( el, Ελληνική Αστυνομία, ''Ellinikí Astynomía'', abbreviated ) is the national police service and one of the three security forces of the Hellenic Republic. It is a large agency with responsibilities rang ...
Academy. The duration of these courses is from a couple of days, up to several months or in some cases more than a year. To assist cross-border common training, exist the Cyprus Police is a member of many international programs and agencies, for example
CEPOL
CEPOL, or the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, is an agency of the European Union dedicated to training law enforcement officials. The institution was founded in 2000 and adopted its current legal mandate on 1 July 2016. It i ...
.
Equipment
Vehicles
Markings
Cyprus Police cars are white with a blue stripe that goes around the car. On both sides they have printed on them the words ''POLICE'' and , which means Police in Greek. They also have the logo of the Cyprus Police, usually on the front doors and also have printed on them the Police’s website ''www.police.gov.cy''. An exception to this is some of the cars used by the Neighbourhood Police that have the Neighbourhood Police logo instead of the Cyprus Police Logo. On the front part of the car they have again the logo with the words ''POLICE'' and and at the back they could have, depending on the model of the car and the space available, the words Police in Greek and English or just the Cyprus Police insignia or both. On the roof they have printed a distinct number for each one as
aerial roof markings
Aerial roof markings are symbols, letters or numbers on the roof of selected police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, coast guard vehicles, cash-in-transit vans, buses and boats to enable aircraft or CCTV to identify them. These markings can b ...
.
In 2011 a trial version for new markings was used on an old Opel Vectra patrol car. These were half-
Battenburg markings
Battenburg markings or Battenberg markings are a pattern of high-visibility markings developed in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and currently seen on many types of emergency service vehicles in the UK, Crown dependencies, British Overseas Ter ...
with a highly reflective blue-yellow stripe on the sides instead of the solid blue stripe. Additionally the back was covered in reflective yellow-red diagonal stripes and had printed the emergency phone number 112. The front part on the hood of the car had the words and ''POLICE'' printed inverted so that they would appear correctly when seen through a mirror. These markings were not enforced.
In 2012 new markings were enforced were the blue stripe although still solid was replaced with a highly reflective one, and the rear horizontal line was replaced from a solid blue stripe to a blue-white diagonal line similar to the rear usually found on vehicles with Battenburg markings.
The Cyprus Police also uses
unmarked vehicles. Unmarked vehicles are not necessarily covert to be used for undercover work. Most unmarked cars are the same models as the patrol cars and they are mostly used by plain clothed officers such as crime investigators, crime prevention squads, technicians etc. Most of these cars are fitted with sirens and can be seen in the streets with detachable strobe lights.
Lists of vehicles
*Unless specifically referenced, the dates the vehicles entered service are based on their license plate registration numbers
*Unless specifically referenced, the dates the vehicles entered service are based on their license plate registration numbers
Aerial vehicles
Boats
Gallery
See also
*
Cyprus Civil Defence
The main mission of the Cyprus Civil Defence Force ( gr, Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας Κύπρου, tr, Kıbrıs Sivil Savunma Kuvvetleri) is carrying out various humanitarian projects intended to protect the civilian population ...
*
Cyprus Fire Service
The Cyprus Fire Service (Greek: , tr, Kıbrıs İtfaiyesi) is the national firefighting service of Cyprus, with the principle task of undertaking of rescues from building rubble, the highlands, water bodies (sea, dams etc.), major traffic accide ...
*
Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center
The Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center or JRCC Larnaca (Greek: ) is an independent agency of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus and its primary mission is to organize the Cyprus Republic Search and Rescue (SAR) system, to co- ...
*
Cyprus Police Academy
tr, Kıbrıs Polis Akademisi
, image_name = Cyprus Police Academy New Logo.jpg
, image_size = 230
, image_alt =
, caption = Cyprus Police Academy Logo (since 2011)
, latin_name =
, motto = ...
*
Cyprus Police Aviation Unit
The Cyprus Police Aviation Unit (CPAU) ( el, Μονάδα Αεροπορικών Επιχειρήσεων (Μ.Α.ΕΠ.), is the police aviation unit of the Headquarters of Cyprus Police, the national police of the Republic of Cyprus and was estab ...
*
Cyprus Police Museum
The Cyprus Police Museum is a museum in Cyprus, dedicated to the history of law enforcement in the country. It is owned by the Cyprus Police and managed by Department A' of the Police Headquarters.
The Police Museum is open to the public from Mon ...
*
Cyprus Port & Marine Police
The Cyprus Port & Marine Police ( el, Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία, tr, Liman ve Deniz Polisi) is the marine police and the civilian Coast Guard wing of the Cyprus Police, and are tasked with the primary mission of la ...
*
Cyprus Prisons Department
The Cyprus Prisons Department (Greek: ) is the Department of Corrections of the Republic of Cyprus. A government agency under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order responsible for overseeing the incarceration of persons convicted of crimes.
...
*
Hellenic Police
The Hellenic Police ( el, Ελληνική Αστυνομία, ''Ellinikí Astynomía'', abbreviated ) is the national police service and one of the three security forces of the Hellenic Republic. It is a large agency with responsibilities ra ...
*
Sovereign Base Areas Customs
Sovereign Base Areas Customs and Immigration is a semi-autonomous branch of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom. It has jurisdiction over Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus, administered ...
*
Sovereign Base Areas Police
*
Cyprus Joint Police Unit
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...