"All we can do is strengthen and strengthen existing measures, which I have to tell you is universally true"
From tonight, the measures of the Police to combat organized crime will come into effect, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis, said in statements in the early afternoon before the cutting of the king cake of the Pancypriot Bar Association.
The measures were officially announced by the Police, after the whole issue was processed in relation to their immediate implementation, he noted. They are not unprecedented or unheard of measures, perhaps most expected them, he said, "simply the serious issue was the strengthening, strengthening of these measures, in order for them to be implemented immediately. And when we say immediate application, we mean immediate."
This was the issue that was being discussed these days, the Minister mentioned and noted that the measures were taken after the Police informed operationally about their capabilities, which was done this morning, and then the measures were officially announced.
When asked if these measures should have been taken some time ago, when the increase in crime began to be seen, Mr. Hartsiotis said that these measures existed, they were in place, but with the increase that has been observed "the only thing we can do is to strengthen and strengthen the existing measures, which I must tell you is true worldwide". Even in Greece, after the recent upsurge in crime, he noted.
Prevention – suppression
There are two methods that apply worldwide, prevention and repression, the Minister of Justice said. In the part of prevention, he said, there is the strengthening and strengthening of the intelligence department and in the part of suppression, the strengthening and strengthening of patrols in motorized and pedestrian sections. "These will become apparent, you will see them immediately and we are moving forward."
He reiterated that "there are no magic recipes, nor will Cyprus invent the magic wand of immediate suppression of violence and crime. We will do everything possible within the operational, immediate capabilities of the Police."
Asked to say "what does immediate mean" and if he means from tomorrow, Marios Hartsiotis replied "from tonight".
When asked if the Police has the numerical strength to carry out these reinforcements, the Minister said that "these issues are not open to public discussion. I want to believe that they will have results in order to reduce the outbreak to the greatest extent possible, but please, details and individual issues are not open to public discussion.
Asked if the opinion or training of foreign experts will be sought, he did not want to go into individual details – as he said – saying that "the measures are not the only ones we have announced, there are a bunch of measures but for reasons of public security and order, at the moment it is not for announcement".
Asked how they will check the effectiveness of the measures, the Minister of Justice stated that "there are ways of checking. Be sure of that."
In the observation that many people associate the rise in crime with corruption in the Police and what measures will be taken in this direction, Mr. Hartsiotis said that the set of measures, as announced, "even those that cannot be announced, include everything the range of evidence regarding crime and fan violence".
Regarding fan violence and the bill prepared by his predecessors, the Minister said that the announcement of the measures includes the amendments to the bill, which was sent on his own initiative on January 17 to the Parliament, which also includes measures that the Police have already undertaken their application.