Filenews 24 June 2022 - by Fanis Makridis
The State of Cyprus gives a weapon to 300 special contracted police officers, following a decision of the Parliament. In yesterday's plenary session of the Parliamentary House, the law was passed for the recruitment of this number of special police officers, with the aim of addressing the migration issue along the Green Line.
However, an amendment providing for these contract workers to carry only anti-riot equipment, but not weapons, was rejected by this House by a vote of 14 in favour and 23 against.
The proposed amendment was on behalf of MP Aristos Damianos (AKEL) and aimed at amending Article 3 of the Police (Amendment) Law of 2022. It sought as "the special contracted police officers to bring anti-riot equipment, but not weapons, since they will perform auxiliary and supportive duties to deal with migratory flows and general immigration issues within the framework of police responsibilities".
DISY MP Nikos Georgiou, commenting on AKEL's amendment, said that it nipped the institution itself in the bud. "Police officers," he said, "should carry weapons ensuring their safety and the consolidation of a sense of security, as a real deterrent." In addition, he said that in the ceasefire line "there is also smuggling and trafficking in drugs and no one can know what this House can deal with".
However, the discussion on the recruitment of the 300 contracted special police officers to perform auxiliary and supportive tasks in order to deal with the migratory flows lasted about three hours and was characterized by discomfort.
Several MPs from all parties took a stand, while some of them invoked the Rules of Procedure of the House on the way in which the debates are conducted in the Plenum. Others have asked their colleagues to stop abusing plenary time and to take action.
In the end, 24 deputies of DISY, DIKO, ELAM, EDEK of DIPA voted in favour, one MP of the Movement of Ecologists and the independent Andreas Themistocleous voted in favour, while 12 AKEL MPs voted against. There was also an abstention on the part of the Ecologists' movement.
The approved Law provides for the possibility for the Chief of Police, with the approval of the competent minister, to hire special police officers in the Police on a fixed-term contract. There is also a relevant authorization for the issuance by the Council of Ministers, following the prior opinion of the Chief, of regulations that provide for the recruitment procedure, the required qualifications, the duration of service, the duties and any other details for the performance of the above mentioned supporting duties of the contracted special police officers.
It also provides for the power of the Council of Ministers to determine the remuneration, working hours, leave of absence and sick leave of these police officers.
