The image that citizens have of the work of the police is positive, said the Managing Director of IMR - University of Nicosia, Christina Kokkalou, who conducted the survey on the evaluation of the work of the Police by citizens. The Chief of Police, Stelios Papatheodorou said that this positive image does not make them complacent, but they will work with even more zeal for the good of society and the safety of citizens.
The presentation of the results of part of the survey was held at noon at the European University of Nicosia. The survey was conducted in the months of March and April with a sample of 1000 people stratified in a way that is representative of the demographics of Cyprus in all provinces with a statistical error of +/_ 3.1. The survey was conducted on a pro bono basis, as mentioned in the press conference, noting that the cooperation of the Police with IMR and the University of Nicosia, for 20 years, will continue.
Asked "what are the biggest problems facing your area that cause you insecurity", Ms. Kokkalou said that 35% said they have a problem in the area where they live, 24% said theft and burglary, 16% mentioned migrants (increased in Paphos province more), 13% nuisance, 8% dangerous driving, 6% vandalism/damage, drugs 5%.
Asked "which of the following areas need more policing", Kokkalou said 74% responded around schools, in urban areas or the city centre 61%, areas in entertainment venues 57%, with 54% the road network, 53% busy areas, 48% the confrontation line, with 44% in villages and rural areas, but also in suburbs of urban areas and 35% on beaches.
78% of respondents said they feel fairly or very safe in the area where they live, 15% somewhat safe and 7% said not safe at all. Men and younger people aged 18 - 24 feel most safe. Kokkalou said that the area with the most insecurity is Paphos, noting that the problem with migrants emerged as the second most important there.
When asked what they think should be the biggest priorities of the Police, citizens spontaneously responded and gave top priority to protecting the safety of citizens in general with 30%, crimes against people with 27%, 24$ answered that the priority should be the fight against drugs, with 24% crime against property, road safety 20% and illegal immigration with 11%.
On whether they had been in contact with the police in the last 12 months, Kokkalou said 36% had been in contact with the police, most in Limassol province, followed by Nicosia and Larnaca provinces. More women than men and in the 25-44 age groups. 36% said they had contacted the Police to make a complaint, followed by 22% to make a call, 16% to give some information, 3% to make a complaint.
Most, Kokkalou said, contacted the Police by physically attending local police stations, one in ten via the emergency line, 5% via the internet,3% the Citizen's Line.
The general perception of citizens about the Police on a scale from 1 to 5 is 2.90 with Ms. Kokalou noting that it is first among the institutions that have a direct relationship with the citizen, followed by: the courts with 2.88, health with 2.88, education with 2.79 and social services with 2.6.
Regarding citizens' trust in the respective institutions, Kokkalou said that the courts are first with 2.89, followed by the police with 2.87, education with 2.83, health with 2.83 and social services with 2.66.
With 2.85 on a scale of 1 to 5, she continued, citizens consider the health sector the most efficient, with 2.84 the courts , the police with 2.81, education with 2.73 and social services with 2.58.
Christina Kokkalou said that citizens rate the technological upgrade of the Police with 3.13, information and information with 2.95, relationship with the public with 2.89, specialization with 2.87, professionalism of the Police with 2.86 and responsiveness to citizens with 2.84.
Chief of Police
The Police is one of the largest organizations of the wider Public Sector with 24 different Services/Departments/Units/Directorates, with infrastructure all over the country covering the whole range of duties of a National Police, the Chief of Police said in his address. "As a Police Force, we are continuously involved in so many aspects of the daily life of citizens. We know that the state, society and every citizen expects a great deal from us," he said.
We are an integral part of society, a living cell of it, and any positive elements, as well as any weaknesses, are largely reflected in the entire society, he added.
"We, more than anyone else, want a modern and efficient police force that protects, serves and supports, to the maximum extent possible, the citizen in his daily life," he said. Papatheodorou said that they remain faithfully committed to four main pillars focusing on fighting terrorism and radicalisation, tackling organised and serious crime, managing illegal immigration issues and improving the level of road safety.
Detection of drug cases at 95.8%, murder and rape cases at 90%
In relation to the fight against the scourge of drugs for 2021, he said that the detection rate of cases reaches 95,8%, of the 861 investigated cases, 825 people have been arrested, some of them were - as he said - members of criminal groups and were long-time targets of the police. As for seizures, the YCA , he continued, managed to seize about 240 kilograms of cannabis, 190 cannabis plants as well as 5 kilograms of cocaine.
"These quantities of seizures are a strong indication of the Police's commitment to limit as much as possible the quantities of drugs illegally trafficked in the market and to arrest and bring to justice the dealers and traffickers of illegal substances," he said.
High, he said, are also the detection rates in cases of murder and attempted murder and rape and attempted rape for the year 2021, at rates exceeding 90%, sending a clear message to those who commit these outrageous acts.
Road safety
In order to prevent road collisions and cultivate road awareness, the Chief said that together with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Justice and the Road Safety Council, they are intensifying efforts at many levels, with emphasis on the enhanced presence of the Police in the black spots of the road network and especially where fatal collisions occur most often.
"The establishment of the motorcycle "Z" team in the districts of Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca for the purpose of the continuous presence of members of the Police on the road network is a clear indication that safeguarding human life is at the heart of our mission and priorities."
Irregular migration
Regarding irregular migration, Mr. Papatheodorou said that they are making coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior to find appropriate solutions to effectively address the problem and welcomed the passage of the Bill and Regulations for the creation of a Sub-Directorate for Green Line Surveillance and Countering Migration Flows, staffed with 300 new Contracted Special Police Officers.
"The main task of the members of the Sub-Directorate will be the surveillance of the Green Line, the restriction of migratory flows from the occupied territories, the guarding and guarding of accommodation centres, reception areas and detention centres".
He also said that deportations in 2021 were 2,594 while in the first half of 2022 they reached 2,774 people.
Measures on coronavirus
The Chief of Police noted that members of the force over the past two years have ensured the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, noting that according to a report of the Auditor General on this matter, it has also responded to a very satisfactory degree
Mr. Papatheodorou also said that they have proceeded with the construction and/or renovation of the Police Stations of Kleros, Kalo Chorio, Kofinou, Derynia, Peristeriona and Kokkinotrimithia. He recalled the construction three years ago of the Morphou and Famagusta Police Stations, noting that at the end of 2022 the completion of the construction or renovation of the Stroubio, Kouklion, Pissouri, Xylofagos, Athienou and Agios Dometios Police Stations is expected.
"Our immediate plans include the complete renovation of the Limassol Police Station, the conversion of the Pissouri Old Primary School into a Police Station, the construction of a Kato Pyrgos Port Station and a Special Security Centre at the Vasilikos Energy Centre, as well as the renovation of the Lania Police Station," he added.
A major goal, he continued, is the construction of a new Police Headquarters, which will house all the services of the Headquarters and the Nicosia Police Department. "These efforts are aimed at improving the safety of the members in the area where they serve and raising their morale," he said.
Listening to the needs of society and the increase in crimes against women, we have proceeded to develop protocols of actions that give our members all the necessary tools to effectively handle such cases, the Police Chief said. He also considered important, he said, the establishment of a Legal Department in the Police, as well as the Police for Animals, with a special team of members to deal with cases of animal abuse and cruelty.
He also made special mention of the new Sub-Directorates of Financial Crime, Vulnerable Persons Case Management and Cybercrime.
On technological upgrading, he mentioned the new Digital Radio Communication System, based on the European TETRA protocol, the introduction of Drone Policing and the promotion of the new "DIGIPOL" project, which concerns the digitalization of procedures and services provided by the Police to the public.
In the last 2 years, he continued, over 100 service vehicles have been procured, while in 2023 the purchase of another 40 or so is expected; this includes the purchase of 40 smart vehicles.
The Holistic Restructuring of the Police is the most important part, the Chief said, saying that the pillars of the reorganization programme can be summarized in establishing a modern policing and operational model, defining a modern human resource management framework and adopting a modern management, learning and development framework. To this end, he said the Directorate of Strategy and Management of Change in the Police has very recently been established.
Source: KYPE
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
