The Police are facing serious problems with the medical examiners and the hospitalization of psychiatric patients, as a result of which the examination of cases is delayed and people are in patrol cars waiting for a doctor instead of hospitalization.
These issues will be raised again today at a meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Health as a continuation of another recent meeting in which the debate on the effects arising from the current regime was opened.
The Police and by extension the Ministry of Justice, request the modernization of the legislation on Death Investigators, since the existing one is judged to not regulate the autopsies, autopsies and forensic examinations of victims of criminal acts as a whole
Serious problems also arise from the non-operation of morgues in district hospitals, since only the one in Nicosia is used. This practice by medical examiners imposes the transfer of bodies, causes inconvenience to relatives and creates a risk of alteration of scientific findings.
The reopening of morgues in the districts, priority given to the Limassol morgue, and the setting of a timetable for Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta is requested.
An acute issue arises with the transport of bodies which is currently carried out by the Police without always having appropriate vehicles, equipment and training.
It is requested that a competent body be designated for the transport and disposal of appropriate vehicles, equipment and trained personnel.
Another issue concerns the presence of medical examiners in the tents, since now there are incidents in which there is no presence of a medical examiner on the scene, resulting in difficulties in the proper investigation. It is also requested that it be clarified when the presence of a second medical examiner in tents is required and for this purpose to prepare a protocol.
The Police also raise the issue of delay in autopsies since this affects the timely investigation of cases. That is why it is requested to set time limits for performing autopsies, the issuance of preliminary and final forensic reports. Regarding the process of exchanging photos from autopsies, the creation of a secure electronic platform and a ban on sending official material through personal mobile phones (something that had been observed in the past) is requested.
Finally, the question arises as to whether the existing administrative model ensures the necessary operational autonomy and efficiency. There is a proposal for the creation of an autonomous Forensic Service.
Another humanitarian issue on the table concerns the compulsory hospitalization of persons. It has been decided to change the legislation, since today only one person is entitled to psychiatric treatment of his relative in the first instance. There is a request from the Police that the process of issuing a decree of compulsory hospitalization be done with a faster procedure since patients, police officers and relatives are now suffering.
Another issue is the procedure currently applied for the compulsory hospitalization of a person. Now continuous movements of patients and police officers between provinces, hospitals, courts and the Athalassa Hospital are required. For each incident, two police officers are usually employed for many hours.
It has also been found that there are no appropriate structures in all provinces for the immediate management of serious psychiatric cases. That is why there is a proposal by the Police for the creation of rapid intervention units in all provinces, under the responsibility of the Mental Health Services and with trained staff.
Another aspect that does not honour anyone is the finding that persons who have been deemed to need compulsory hospitalization remain in police stations until the issuance of the relevant decree, without medical and nursing care. The Police is requested to designate safe and properly staffed places for temporary stay under the responsibility of the Mental Health Services. Also today, the Police undertakes psychiatric and nursing management duties that do not fall within its duties, which is why a clear definition is requested that the Mental Health Services undertake medical and nursing management, while the Police is limited to security, maintaining order and executing orders.
