-
.
- Ελληνικά
Measures for the further operational capacity of the Police were taken tonight during the meeting of the President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides, with the participation of the Minister of Justice and Public Order Ms. Stylianos Papatheodorou, Government Spokesman Mr. Konstantinos Letibiotis said tonight.
In a statement to journalists at the Presidential Palace after the meeting, the Spokesman said: "During the meeting under the President of the Republic, in the presence of the Minister of Justice and Public Order and the Chief of Police, the first issue discussed was security issues in relation to the events currently taking place in Israel and the measures taken by the Police.
The second is that, because immigration is a priority for the Government, it was decided to strengthen the Immigration and Migration Service in the first half of November, in order to further increase returns and deportations.
Thirdly, it was decided to establish two additional permanent anti-smuggling squads in the MIA from 6 November.
Fourth, by the end of the month, the autonomy of the Police Information Management and Exploitation Service will be completed.
Fifth, the reorganization, within the year, of the 24 departments of the Police, which will lead to a strengthening of its operational capacity and intervention.
The reorganization will also include the utilization in the front line of police officers, who currently perform clerical duties."
Asked if today's meeting effectively closes the debate on possible responsibility for the incidents in Chloraka and Limassol, the Spokesman said: "What the Government has been focusing on from the very first moment is to further enhance the effectiveness of the operational capacity of the Police. Very specific measures have been discussed, very specific actions that will be taken in the coming period, in order to ensure that both the operational plans are more complete and that the operational capacity of the Police is able to avoid these unacceptable things that we have seen in both Chloraka and Limassol."
Asked if the fourth point he mentioned also touches on the CPS, the Spokesman said it concerns the Police Service.
Asked if there are responsibilities and to a journalist's remark that the President was talking about shame, while the Spokesman himself was talking about accountability and that there is a question of credibility, the Spokesman replied. In order to ensure this, specific measures and actions are imposed. It is these measures, these actions that have been thoroughly discussed today. In the next period, and I have mentioned very specific dates, these actions will be evident to us, and to the Police itself."
Asked if there is no question of replacing the Chief of Police, the Spokesman said: "This has been discussed and the Minister of Justice has also taken a position."
Asked about security in Cyprus in the light of events in the Middle East, the Spokesman said: "All measures are being taken on the part of the Police so that we can ensure public safety," while to another question he said that preventive measures are being taken.
The Spokesman added: "It is an unpleasant situation, an unacceptable situation in Israel after the terrorist attacks, it is in our region, so precautionary measures are being taken."
Asked what the mood was at the meeting, the Spokesman said: "The relations between the Chief of Police and the President of the Republic, the President of the Republic and the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Justice and the Chief of Police, are and remain excellent. They have a relationship and they work together in a very key area of management, not only of ensuring public safety, but also effective management of the migration issue."
In response to a reporter's remark that press reports had brought President Christodoulides to dismiss the Chief of Police and asked what intervened to change that, the Spokesman said: "You understand that I can neither confirm nor comment on journalistic information."
What I can tell you is that, from the very first moment, what we have reported is that factual reports were requested from the Police, which the President of the Republic studied, asked for clarifications and additional information, and it is on the basis of these factual reports that this meeting has taken place. Others will follow, so that very specific measures can be taken," he added.
In response to a reporter's remark that other issues in the Police are being asked to conduct an investigation and disciplinary and other responsibilities are being attributed, while in the cases of Chloraka and Limassol, they are not, the Spokesman said: "The President of the Republic, the elected state, has to operate on the basis of facts."
It is for this reason that there are specific procedures in the ranks of the Police as well. Reports of facts, as stipulated by the specific procedure. The President has asked for the fact reports, studied them, asked for additional information, additional data, and it is on the basis of these fact reports that, if we want to focus on the essence of the discussion, is how we can further enhance the operational capacity of the Police. It is for this that very specific steps have been taken so that we can ensure that our country's police force is able to be even more effective."
(PM/AF)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
