Cyprus Police

 History : The history of Law Enforcement in Cyprus goes back to 1879 when the first police law
was passed by the British Colonial Government, which operated a mounted gendarmerie force
known as Cyprus Military Police, the history of the Cyprus Police begins with the
establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

 Cyprus Police was set up with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. Two Public
Security Forces were established within the framework of the Constitution: the Police Force,
which was responsible for policing the urban areas, and the Gendarmerie, which was
responsible for policing rural areas. A Greek-Cypriot Chief and a Turkish-Cypriot Chief
administered the two Forces respectively.

 In 1964, after the intercommunal trouble between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish
Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots withdrew both from the Gendarmerie and the Police, and the
two forces were merged into one, to form the existing Cyprus Police.

Police work is divided into four principal areas, each administered by an Assistant Chief of Police.
These four are

1. Administration
2. Operation
3. Training
4. Support Services

Organizational Structure

 Administration Department

Is the central Administration department of the police. It includes the following offices: • Press
Office • Public Relations Office • Personnel Office • Registry • Accounts Office • Housing and
Welfare Office • Security Office • Police Band • Police Emergency Line • Police Museum •
Citizen’s Telephone Line (1460)

 Traffic and transport department

the Police Headquarters is responsible for preventing road accidents, reporting of traffic
offences and the provision of assistance to the public, for the whole island. More specifically,
the Traffic Department is responsible for the following :

• Traffic Control • Road Safety • Road Safety Education • Traffic Statistics • Records of traffic
offences convictions • Police Driving School • Co-ordination of district traffic sections on the
prevention and reduction of road accidents • Drawing up Strategic plans for the reduction in
traffic accidents

The Traffic Department is structured as follows: • Registry • Statistics Office • Traffic Research
Office • Road Safety Office • Traffic Offences Record Office • Police Driving School • Vehicle
Depot • Photo Ticketing System Office • Road Accident Prevention Squad • Special Motorcycle
Squad
 Crime Investigation Department

the Police Headquarters undertakes the investigation of all serious crime. It is divided into the
following sections

• Registry • C.I.D. (Operations) • Crime Registry • Weapons Registry • Financial Crime

Investigation Unit • Police Dogs Unit • Explosives Unit • Crime Prevention Office • Cultural
Heritage Office • Crime Analysis Office • Crime Intelligence Office • Human Trafficking Office •
Discrimination Office • National Office for the collection of information on hooliganism • Office
for the Prevention / Fight against Domestic Violence and abuse of juveniles • Office for
combating Intellectual Property crimes and Illegal Gambling

 Scientific and Technical Support

is responsible for the drafting and materialization of plans for the technological update of the
Police as well as supervising and providing scientific and technical support for
telecommunications and other technical appliances. Additionally, it is responsible for the
publication of tenders for the purchase of all police equipment.

• Telecommunications section • Vehicle maintenance Workshop • Central Stores • Public

Contract Section • Police Air Wing • Coastal Radar System • Transport Office

 Research and Development Department

The main responsibility of the Research and Development Department is to carry out research
and to develop plans for the improvement of the Police. More specifically the department
carries out the following:

• Introduction of new methods and procedures aiming at the improvement of the efficiency of
the police • Research • Analysis and presentation of statistics on various issues e.g. drugs, crime,
etc. • Preparation and publication of the Annual Police Report • Computerization /
Development / Planning for the Police • Other matters designated by the Chief of Police

Police Services

 Aliens and Immigration Service: is responsible for the application of the Aliens &
Immigration Law and Regulations. It is responsible for passport control at the entry / exit
points of the Republic, the registry and control of aliens, as well as consideration of
aliens’ applications for entry, permanent residence, employment etc.
 The mission of the Drug Law Enforcement Service is the protection of society from drugs
and psychotropic substances. To this effect, the D.L.E.S. undertakes the prevention and
combating of local drug production, trafficking and consumption of these drugs
 Criminalistics Services are responsible for the scientific examination of exhibits and
crime scenes, as well as for the scientific police evidence presented before the court.

The Unit comprises of laboratories and sections such as: • Criminalistic Examination
Laboratory • Physical Sciences Forensic Laboratory • Document Examination section •
Fingerprints section • Photography section
  Police Inspection Service - The mission of the Police Inspection Service is the regular
inspection of all sections of the police to ensure that police duties are carried out properly
and high levels of professional integrity are maintained.
Police Units
 Cyprus Police Academy - considered a Higher Academic Institution, which aims at
providing academic and professional training to all members of the Police
 Mobile Immediate Action Unit - The mission of the Mobile Immediate Action Unit is
the i m m e d i a te r e s p o n s e a n d management of high risk incidents, organized acts
of violence, natural disasters (floods, earthquakes etc) and terrorist activities.
 Presidential Guard Unit - The mission of the Presidential Guard Unit is the safety and
security of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the members of
his family. The members of the Presidential guard are also responsible for the safety of
the P r esidential P a lace, the Presidential Residence and the Summer Residence at
Troodos
 Port and Marine Police - The Port and Marine Police is responsible for patrolling and
surveillance of the territorial waters of the island. The P.&M. Police focuses on the
prevention and combating of illegal immigration, smuggling of drugs, arms trafficking,
and generally on the security of the ports, enforcing Maritime Law
 The Police is divided into
seven Police Districts
1. Nicosia 2. Limasso 3. Larnaca 4. Ammochostos 5. Paphos 6. Morphou 7.
Kerynia
Rank System in Cyprus
 Chief of police = equivalent of Police general in PNP
 Constable = equivalent of patrolman/woman
Retirement
 the age of compulsory retirement in Cyprus Police = 65 years old
 the age of compulsory retirement in Philippine National Police = 56 years old

 appointed directly by the President of the Cyprus Republic for an indefinite period)
** (four fixed positions – Administration, Training, Operations, Support; also the
highest rank a police officer can be promoted to

 Ranks The Police personnel is organized into ranks as follows:

• Chief of Police
• Deputy Chief of Police
• Assistant Chief of Police
• Chief Superintendent
• Superintendent A’
• Superintendent B’
• Chief Inspector
• Inspector
• Sergeant
• Constable
 Salary Range
 Police Officer salaries in Cyprus range from 1,180 EUR per month (minimum salary) to 4,090
EUR per month (maximum salary).