Cyprus Police

Logo of the Cyprus Police

The Cyprus Police are a part of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and are the national police of the Republic of Cyprus.^[1]

Cyprus has a low crime rate in relation to many other European nations, with a ratio of 1024 serious crimes per 100,000 people, compared to 5,000 per 100,000 population in the rest of Europe.^[2]

The functions of the National Police in Cyprus are divided into four principal areas: education, administration, operations and support services. Its main responsibilities are to:

• maintain public law and order;
• preserve the peace;
• prevent and detect crimes; and
• apprehend offenders.

Structure and organization

The National Police is organised as follows:^[3]

Departments

Police cars in Limassol during Carnival parade

• Department A - Administration Department, responsible for the overall organization of the Police, on administrative and personnel issues.
• Department B - Traffic and Transport Department with overall responsibility for all traffic related issues, such as prevention and investigation of traffic accidents, reporting of driving offences, etc.
• Department C - Criminal Investigation Department, responsible for the investigation and detection of serious crimes. It operates the Cyber Crime Unit (office for combating cyber crime), and the Forensic Lab.
• Department D - Scientific & Technical Support Department, responsible for providing telecommunications, scientific and technical support to the Police. It also exercises the administrative control of the Police Air Wing Section.
• Research and Development Department - responsible for the promotion and implementation of procedures and methods to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Police. The I.T. Branch of the Police is under the administration of this Department.
• Criminalistic Service - scientific examination of exhibits and crime scenes, as well as the presentation of scientific police evidence before the courts.
• Audit and Inspection Service - to inspect all Police Departments, Units, Services, and Divisional Police Districts.

Directorates

• European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate
• Directorate for managing material and supplies
• Directorate of airports security
• Finance Directorate

Police Units

Cypriot Police Bell 412EP participating in fire fighting efforts during the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire

• Aliens and Immigration Unit - to implement the Aliens & Immigration Law and Regulations.
• Central Information Service - to collect information regarding national security and public order issues. It is directly answerable to the President of the Republic, and for administrative issues to the Chief of Police.
• Cyprus Police Academy - considered a Higher Academic Institution, which aims at providing academic and professional training to all members of the Police.
• Drug Enforcement Unit - to prevent and combat drug use and drug trafficking.
• Emergency Response Unit - responsible for the immediate response to and management of high risk incidents, organized acts of violence, natural disasters, and terrorist activities.
• Presidential Guard Unit - responsible for the security of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, his family, his residence and the Presidential Palace.
• Port and Marine Police - responsible for the patrolling and surveillance of the coastal line and territorial waters of the island.
• Aviation Unit

Divisions

• Nicosia
• Limassol
• Larnaca
• Famagusta
• Paphos
• Morphou

Staff

As of 2006, the total number of police staff was 4771 (including specialized posts and special constables), 11.76% were female and 88.24% male.^[1]

Education and Training

The Cyprus Police Academy, established in 1990, has the status of a Higher Educational Institution.^[1] The idea of having an Academy rather than a just a training school was to educate, not just train, meaning inclusion of topics such as sociology, psychology, languages, etc. to develop police officers with a broader vision, prepared to carry out their duties in a continuously changing and increasingly demanding modern society.^[1]

See also

• Cyprus Port & Marine Police
• Sovereign Base Areas Police
• Sovereign Base Areas Customs

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} http://polis.osce.org/countries/details?item_id=12
2. ^ Cyprus Net Retrieved 14 May 2007
3. ^ http://www.police.gov.cy/police/police.nsf/dmlcomposition_en/dmlcomposition_en?OpenDocument

External links

• Official website