Filenews 16 February 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
Vehicles with state-of-the-art technology that includes a number plate recognition system, portable radars for speed control and even electric ones, were recently equipped by the Police.
Among the 96 new vehicles are nine conventional ones that do not have police signals or beacons and which will be thrown into the battle for the control of drivers on the roads for the purpose of preventing accidents. These vehicles will be manned by uniformed police officers and used to control speed. With these vehicles, an attempt will be made to strike at the phenomenon that some drivers see the patrol cars from afar, reduce speed and as soon as they pass them start moving again above the limit.
As the director of the Department of Technological Development, Loizos Prastitis, told "F", the smart vehicles that have now now received will be used on the secondary road network to reduce fatal accidents. Of these, 44 are of the type SUVs and will replace existing ones, which have covered their life's benefit and no longer meet the operational needs of the Police.
The fleet of smart patrol cars is reinforced with another 42 vehicles carrying the well-known ANPR system, which detects whether there is a registration certificate and security in force, MOT as well as whether the driver is being sought for unpaid warrants or an arrest warrant is pending against him. They will also carry portable radar to control the speed of vehicles from whichever direction they come.
Also, according to Mr. Prastitis, the police fleet will be reinforced by two new vehicles that will be mobile command stations. These vehicles will be used in scenes of incidents and are expected to reduce the time taken by witnesses and suspects, since the procedure will be done on the spot. They will have a TV and screens for viewing live images from episodes.
In addition to these, five anti-riot vehicles will be acquired, which will transport groups along with their equipment to places of incidents, such as illegal gatherings, uprisings and hooliganism incidents. Finally, the Police, having a green conscience, is expected in the near future to add to the patrols three electric vehicles, which will be used for the needs of community policing. For this purpose, three charging stations will be established in the second half of 2022.
