A new satellite station of the Maritime Policing Unit in the Gulf of Episkopi has been created by the British Bases Police, with the aim of strengthening patrols and reducing response time to incidents at sea.
The new facility will act as an additional operational base and, in the first phase, will support businesses in the Episkopi Bay area on weekends, during the summer season from June to September.
According to a statement from the British Bases Police, the members of the Unit will carry out security patrols, respond to emergencies and participate, where necessary, in search and rescue operations. At the same time, they will undertake tasks of implementing the legislation in the maritime area of responsibility of the Bases.
The new station expands the operational reach of the existing Maritime Policing Station in Akrotiri, allowing for faster deployment of forces in a larger part of the coastal area.
It will be staffed by existing personnel from the Maritime Policing Unit and from both Police Directorates of the British Bases.
Sergeant Nikolas Perdiou, the Unit's instructor and risk assessor, said the new facility enhances operational efficiency and allows for a faster response, particularly in incidents where "every minute is of the essence".
For his part, Senior Operations Lieutenant Ozgur Saadat said that the station will allow the coverage of a larger geographical area and will strengthen efforts to prevent, detect and respond to incidents of irregular migration in the territorial waters of the British Bases.
The satellite station has been created as a permanent operational facility, in order to meet the long-term needs of the Maritime Policing Unit.
