increased patrols

Cyprus ready to offer aid to migrants stranded in buffer zone, President says

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Cyprus ready to offer aid to migrants stranded in buffer zone, President says

Cyprus is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants stranded in the buffer zone, with the Red Cross already offering aid. The country has obligations under the EU’s Green Line Regulation and is cautious about becoming a new route for illegal immigrants. Fourteen migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Cameroon, and Iran are stranded near a university campus in Aglantzia. The UN Peacekeeping Force and UNHCR are working to assist them, as Cyprus has temporarily suspended asylum applications and increased patrols along the buffer zone. Additionally, asylum applications for Syrian nationals have been suspended due to human rights violations in Syria.

Police report no firecracker injuries during easter

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Police report no firecracker injuries during easter

No injuries from firecrackers were reported during the Easter holidays. Approximately 5,500 firecrackers were confiscated island wide and 12 people were charged in writing for illegal possession of fireworks and other explosives.

Union head claims police chief , ‘silenced him’

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Union head claims police chief , ‘silenced him’

Fact: Head of the police branch of Isotita trade union Nikos Loizides received a threatening letter from police chief Stelios Papatheodorou for disclosing internal police matters and using offensive language in televised interviews.

Pournara Reception Centre population rises to 1,182 after recent arrivals

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Pournara Reception Centre population rises to 1,182 after recent arrivals

The Pournara First Reception Centre is currently dealing with high pressure due to a recent influx of migrants, with the population now at 1,182, the highest occupancy since last year. The Cypriot asylum services are granting temporary protection to Syrian nationals, allowing them to reside in Cyprus without the obligation of providing housing. Efforts are being made to urge the EU to provide financial aid to Lebanon to contain Syrian refugees within its borders, while also working on reclassifying certain regions in Syria as ‘safe’ for potential repatriation. Diplomatic efforts with Lebanon have not yet yielded significant progress, as an increasing number of Syrians are leaving Lebanon amidst the Gaza conflict.

Police union threatens legal action over unpaid overtime

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Police union threatens legal action over unpaid overtime

The police branch of the Isotita trade union threatened legal action over plans to extend staff hours without increasing pay.

Police launch clampdown on organised crime

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Police launch clampdown on organised crime

Police in Cyprus have launched a 60-day clampdown on organised crime, with a focus on stepping up night patrols and carrying out coordinated operations and systematic vehicle checks. Crime per capita has risen for the second consecutive year, with offences against property constituting the largest group of offences. Officials of justice and police have been targeted by the underworld, leading to specific instructions for heightened surveillance in 36 geographic areas. Police unions have raised concerns about officers required to work overtime without appropriate remuneration and the inadequacy of staffing numbers and detention facilities.