Filenews 22 June 2021
During the three-day Kataklysmos holiday, about 2,500 traffic complaints emerged in Cyprus, says, in a written statement, the Officer of the Police Headquarters Communication Branch, Sergeant Eleni Konstantinou.
It adds that with priority being given to the safety and service of citizens, as well as increasing the degree of response to the various incidents, the Police implemented a specific action plan during the three-day flood (from Friday afternoon 18/06/2021 – Monday 21/06/2021).
"During this time, our presence was strong both in public places and on the road network for the prevention of road accidents, the softening of traffic, and the provision of all possible assistance to road users. Additional measures have also been taken to prevent crime, in particular offences against property, such as burglaries, thefts, robberies, etc., with pedestrian and motor patrols, in cities and in the countryside," he notes.
Traffic Measures
Mrs . Konstantinou says traffic measures included an intensification of motorised patrols and an increased presence of its members, particularly on roads leading to coastal and mountain areas, with the aim of a bloodless three-day period, away from road traffic collisions and injuries.
"Unfortunately, however, the three-day event marked the fatal car accident that occurred last Friday in Nicosia province, with the victim of a 22-year-old. Also, a 74-year-old woman, who was being treated at Nicosia General Hospital after her critical injury in a traffic collision that occurred last May (22/5) in Famagusta province, succumbed yesterday to her injuries," she adds.
Remarkable, said Mrs. Konstantinou, is the fact that two traffic collisions have been recorded in which the drivers involved were under the influence of alcohol (34-year-old with a reading of 97mg% instead of 9mg% in a final alcohol test, who was driving with an expired student driver's license, without being covered by a safety certificate and without the consent of the owner of the vehicle and a 44-year-old with a final indication of 100mg% instead of 22mg%).
Also, she notes, two other drivers were arrested for driving at excessive speed (one vehicle was moving at a speed of 183 km instead of 100 and the second vehicle at a speed of 180 km instead of 100).
After all, said Ms. Konstantinou, a number of drivers in Cyprus were found driving under the influence of drugs.
"In addition, in the effort to regulate traffic and to monitor our traffic in the afternoon yesterday, the helicopter of the Police Air Operations Unit (MEP) took part, which was over-the-top of the motorways during the mass return of the public," he adds.
Operational action
Mrs . Konstantinou says that the presence of members of the Police was also strong in public places of trafficking, since additional measures were taken for offences against property, but also for the prevention of crime in general.
"Throughout the three-day period, pedestrian and motor patrols were particularly increased, in cities and in the countryside. In this context, the police's operational action resulted, inter alia, in the arrest of two persons for stabbing, the arrest of a driver in possession of a quantity of cocaine, and in a preliminary drug test submitted, the result was positive. In addition, another person in possession of offensive instruments was arrested. At the same time, a number of persons were arrested for facilitating investigations into investigations into burglaries and thefts," she adds.
In addition, Ms . Konstantinou says that during the three-day period checks were carried out by the members of the Police in various premises to verify compliance with the decrees of the Infectious Cleansing Act, as well as whether the necessary permits for their operation were in force.
It notes that in the context of the checks in the province of Larnaca the managers of two premises were denounced for operating without permission, drinking and using mega-microphones, while in Famagusta province, the person responsible for broadcasting audio without permission was denounced by the competent authority.
Traffic Controls
Mrs . Konstantinou also states that during the three-day period there were also pan-Cypriot traffic checks and particular emphasis was placed on offences proven to contribute to fatal and serious road traffic collisions, such as speeding, dangerous overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to use a seat belt or protective helmet.
"It should be noted that despite repeated calls from the Police and the constant campaigns that are taking place, during the three-day period there were about 2,500 complaints from Cypriots concerning various traffic offences, the majority of which exceeded the speed limit. It should be noted, however, that the members of the Police have also responded to a number of other incidents and have handled complaints of various offences (serious, minor and traffic offences)", she adds.
Mrs . Konstantinou finally states that the Social Media of the Police (facebook, twitter, application, web portal) contributed greatly to informing the public, since the information on the state of the road network and the flow of information was continuous, as well as the posting of useful advice/communications to inform citizens.
