In the office of the Minister of Justice and Public Order is the Police report regarding the guards of political figures and state officials.
The Risk Assessment Committee has completed its work after Minister Kostas Fytiris called for a risk reassessment for all those who have a guard, while he showed the way on how to deal with the issue, asking for the removal of his static guards outside his home. The police officers who were assigned to guard the house of Mr. Fytiris have already been moved to other posts. This tactic, i.e. the political head of the Police having a guard in his residence, continued for 10 years, whether there was a danger or not.
The Police Report analyzes for each person, whether there is a real risk to their safety, what other measures are taken and suggestions are submitted. Mr. Fytiris' intentions are clear and his desire to reduce the number of guards is a given. The issue, in addition to security, also has its political aspect and it is expected that there will be reactions in the event that a decision is made to reduce or abolish the guards by certain persons.
To date, most guards are granted to political figures mainly because of the status they hold and in a few cases because of danger. For example, the allocation of one or two police officers to former Presidents of the Parliament, or to the wives of former Presidents of the Republic, was not made because they are in any danger but by grace.
It is for this reason that a decision must be made at the political level whether any purpose of having a guard is served, and even forever, former Presidents of the Republic or of the Parliament, or the spouses of former Presidents of the Republic.
The Risk Assessment Committee also examined the issue of the security of former President Nicos Anastasiades, who has the most (12), since in addition to the escort there is also the guard at his home in Limassol. It is considered certain that his guard will be reduced on the basis of the recommendations of the Police Committee.
Today, all the leaders of parliamentary parties have a guard, as well as the presidents of K.S. EDEK and DIPA. It is expected that due to the non-stay of these two parties in Parliament, the guard will withdraw, while a question mark remains as to what will happen to Odysseas Michailidis and Phidias Panagiotou.
The Risk Assessment Committee has examined the security measures in their homes and is making some recommendations, while it is expected that a police officer will be provided for Phidias Panayiotou only when he is in Cyprus.
What is certain is that the guards will be reduced, since more than 100 police officers are employed with the escort of officials without really endangering anyone. What seems to bother the most is that the uniformed officers are used for work and are assigned tasks unrelated to the safety of state officials, while most of them have been with them for years, resulting in reactions to their intentions to move.
Decisions are expected to be made within the next few days with the Minister of Justice presenting a relevant proposal to the Council of Ministers that will also make the final decision.
