Filenews 17 May 2021 - byMichalis Hatzivasilis
In the second part of his interview with "F", the Chief of Police, Stelios Papatheodorou, refers to the titanic effort to implement the decrees on infectious dialysis and responds to criticisms of the many complaints of citizens about infectious disease, saying that a great deal of understanding has been shown to citizens in relation to events and measures against the pandemic. It also refers to the reduction of the rolling problem to which lockdowns have also contributed.
- The Police for almost 14 months have devoted almost all its powers to the implementation of anti-pandemic decrees. What does this mean for a House with a multi-role role for which the safety of citizens is important?
- For over a year now, the Cyprus Police have been called upon to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic, a particularly difficult situation that afflicts the world, in connection with its other operational tasks. The Police, together with the other competent agencies and bodies, has to manage the difficult and arduous task of auditing the implementation of decrees issued by the State on the basis of the Infectious Disease Act. Proper handling is required to effectively manage such a situation.
To this end we have carried out specific planning at both operational and administrative level. We have proceeded to draw up special operations plans, to reallocate and change the hours of our staff, so that we can effectively carry out the difficult task assigned to us and at the same time be able to protect the health of our members and their families. A significant number of our members have been seconded to Departments and Services that are mainly concerned with pandemic issues, with the aim of carrying out systematic checks and more generally ensuring public health.
- Don't you think that by focusing all your forces on the pandemic, criminal elements have been given the opportunity to move more freely?
- The pandemic has absorbed some of our human resources, since, every day, our members carry out patrol duties and carry out checks in order to ensure public health. This, of course, is done in parallel with the other tasks of the Police, since under no circumstances have we been complacent with regard to the implementation of our work and strategic objectives.
With flexible and thought-out handling, in my view, we use our available staff without weakening the first line of duty, thus giving due weight to our main mission that focuses on the safety of our fellow citizens. This is what the daily bringing of suspected persons to justice for serious crimes testifies.
- The police have often been criticised for being overzealous in complying with the laws on infectious disease. Couldn't it be more human?
- The Cyprus Police is an organisation with a human-centred orientation and a social face; approaches the problem of the pandemic with social sensitivity, as is required in this difficult time.
At the same time, however, there is a great deal of responsibility, together with the other co-competent services, for the implementation of the decrees with the ultimate aim of dealing with the situation with as little consequences as possible, and I am referring to the loss of human lives. I take this opportunity and would like to address all our fellow citizens and stress the importance of the moments ahead. Admittedly, we are all tired of the pandemic and the constraints that the situation imposes on us. Perhaps a portion of our fellow citizens feel that their human rights and freedoms are being restricted. But it is very important not to forget those who have lost their lives to this disease and the thousands who have suffered greatly. For example, between 11 March, 2020 and 29 April 2021 a total of 2,601,000 checks were carried out in Cyprus, of which 37,000 complaints were made (2,400 complaints related to premises and 34,600 related to persons).
- In Limassol, for the second time, rioting elements involved the arson of two police vehicles. Since we haven't had such actions in the past, how will the police react?
- With regard to the arson of two police vehicles in Limassol, it should be noted that these are isolated incidents which are related to juvenile delinquency and are directly linked to the peculiar and difficult situation that we have all been experiencing for the last year or so because of the coronavirus pandemic. Five young people have been arrested in this case.
The Cyprus Police during the last three days of Holy Week responded to more than 700 incidents involving nuisance, throwing of firecrackers, lighting of bonfires and other offences related to juvenile delinquent behaviour. A total of 22 people have been arrested, including 19 aged between 15 and 22. Serious incidents include attacks carried out by our members with molotovs and firecrackers, as well as the complete destruction of a police vehicle and the extensive damage to a second. Under no circumstances can we accept these actions, which have endangered the physical integrity of our members, who daily fight to ensure conditions of safety, peace and order in our country.
Many refer to excessive violence on the part of the Police, and it is clear that we are a human-centred Security Corps and we have shown a great deal of understanding towards the citizens.
'Ayantas' depending on a risk assessment
- A lot of noise was made for the use of the water-throwing vehicle "Ayantas". Could its use be avoided?
- In this respect, we should await the conclusion of the Police Complaints and Complaints Investigation Authority, which is responsible for investigating it, in which it will be clear whether there has been any use of excessive force on the part of the Police.
In general, on the issue of gatherings, the police's tactic is not to intervene, except in cases where they develop into nuisance and jeopardise public order and security. The counter-protest vehicle is included in the Police's operational plans on the basis of a risk assessment derived from the information available.
38.5% reduction in traffic this year
- How much has the pandemic helped to reduce the road problem in Cyprus?
- In 2020, the year in which the pandemic occurred, 506 road collisions and 477 victims (dead and injured) were recorded. In particular, 48 fatal road collisions were recorded with 48 dead, 185 serious road collisions with 211 seriously injured, 108 minor road collisions with 218 slightly injured and 165 road collisions with property damage alone.
In 2019, there were 727 road collisions and 725 casualties. In particular, 52 fatal road collisions were recorded with 52 dead, 286 serious road collisions with 340 seriously injured, 152 minor road collisions with 333 slightly injured and 237 road collisions with property damage alone.
We have therefore observed a decrease of 30.40%, generally in road collisions of all categories, and a decrease of 34.21% in victims as a result of road collisions. In both fatal road collisions and the dead, we have seen a decrease of 7.69%.
Our assessment is that the period of time we have spent in the past year, during which strict measures have been taken in the movement of citizens, has contributed in part to reducing road conflicts and casualties. This decrease is most evident to the seriously and slightly injured, but also to road collisions with property damage only.
Furthermore, by assessing the first five months of 2020 with this year's corresponding period, there is a 38.5% decrease in both deaths and fatal road collisions this year. In particular, while last year we had 13 dead in similar road collisions, this year when measures were taken to prevent the pandemic we had 8 victims, as a result of 8 road collisions. Of the eight dead, five were motorcyclists and one was a passenger on a motorcycle.
