Filenews 28 August 2025
The Police admit that there is a lack of specialized knowledge by its investigators for the investigation of fires, while it records a series of errors and deficiencies observed during the deadly fire in Malia.
As it emerges from the answers given by the Deputy Chief of Police Panicos Stavrou after questions from MPs, the police do not confirm the arson. Police have so far handled a total of 13 pieces of information related to the fire that have been studied, evaluated and investigated without securing relevant testimony against any person. The Police are investigating other complaints related to a number of other fires. With regard to the possibility of an asymmetric threat, Deputy Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The leader mentions that at least at this stage there is no relevant tangible testimony.
Regarding the errors and omissions that were observed, Mr. Stavrou refers to the entry of people into the Mobile Police Administration Station (K.S.D.) without their presence in it being mandatory. As he says, the presence of incompetent persons at the Station, complicates the work of the competent persons. Therefore, the entry of incompetent persons into the K.S.D. must not be allowed.
– The presence of journalists should take place in an area away from the coordination center and the advanced command station and under the supervision of police officers or firefighters.
– A problem arose with the provision of internet services, after the damages caused by the fires to various antennas of the provider, which is why the Police recommend that a satellite internet server be permanently installed in the K.S.D. so that it is available for use at any time needed in case of emergency.
– He points out that there were no ambulances at the scene of the fire. As reported, at the Crisis Management Centre of ADE Limassol, a large number of phone calls were received for the provision of first aid and treatment to those affected by the fire. The presence of ambulances at the scene of the fire or at least in the area of the Crisis Management Center is imperative.
– Another gap that the Police notice is that while there was a need for housing for citizens and they were calling the Limassol Police, there were no phones of the Social Welfare Services to provide assistance. Also, a representative of the organization HOPE FOR CHILDREN, was at the Crisis Management Center of ADE Limassol and helped as much as possible. However, according to the police, they must operate in a separate space for better communication with citizens.
Finally, Mr. Stavrou notes that in relation to the investigation of the fires, there is a lack of specialized knowledge from the investigators. There is a need for joint training of the members of the Police and Fire Service, who are involved in the investigation of such cases in specialized training programs.
