The Union of Cyprus Municipalities has expressed astonishment after receiving invoices from police for security coverage of carnival parades.
A representative of the Union of Municipalities told the Parliamentary Legal Committee today that police had requested €45,000 for security expenses related to Sunday’s parade in Limassol.
The representative described the charges as “unacceptable,” noting this was the first instance of such billing, and expressed uncertainty about how municipalities would respond to these unexpected costs.
Assistant Chief of Police Yiannakis Georgiou informed the committee that the decision to charge for policing services was implemented this year because “allocated overtime budgets are specific and insufficient”.
The request was submitted following the same protocol used for private companies.
Committee Chairman Nicos Tornaritis characterised this action as “unprecedented” during the parliamentary session which was convened to discuss legislation regarding public gatherings.
Nikos Loizides, president of the “Isotita” police union, explained that the decision applies to “all events” and was made by the Chief of Police after last year’s 45 events stretched overtime budgets beyond their limits.
