The police chief is studying changes to how checkpoints and airports are policed to make controls more effective.
Speaking during the budget debate of the Justice Ministry, Themistos Arnaoutis said 23 hourly paid workers were recently hired to staff checkpoints to improve checks on people crossing to and from the occupied areas.
Regarding airport security, he said 70 people are currently employed for the security of the two airports in Larnaca and Paphos, and there is a proposal for their security to be placed under the Defence Ministry. This would free up police personnel whilst placing airport security under one ministry instead of two.
Arnaoutis acknowledged the problem with how police respond to calls from citizens. “We have a problem with proper response, which is why we requested the hiring of a consultant for technological upgrading. The finance minister responded positively but indicated that services will need to be purchased,” he said.
Arnaoutis added that criminals are arming themselves and have no moral barriers or financial constraints, which is why he asked the finance minister to approve hiring technology specialists.
Responding to a question about corruption in the police, the police chief said prevention is important and police officers cannot have wealth, adding that work must be done on prevention.
Regarding the murder of Stavros Demosthenous, the police chief said investigations are ongoing, eight arrests have been made, more are expected and work continues.
On the error that saw a prisoner placed in a holding cell with suspects, and the discovery of a mobile phone in the possession of a suspect in the Demosthenous murder, the chief said administrative investigations have been ordered and everything is being examined. Regarding incidents outside the Presidential Palace, he said these are being investigated by an independent authority, whilst noting that studies are being conducted on consolidating police stations for better rural coverage.
Hartsiotis on prisons, security systems, football violence
Presenting the Justice Ministry budget, minister Marios Hartsiotis referred to the upcoming police reorganisation, with the telephone centre to be upgraded in 2026 at a cost of €1 million. He stressed that cooperation with Greek authorities is being strengthened, whilst on tackling organised crime he said much is being done, with increased uniformed patrols and intensified operations. He said it was recently decided to have a mobile immediate action unit presence at Eleftheria Square, whilst the Asset Investigation Unit was established and money and property frozen as part of investigations into illicit enrichment cases.
Regarding the prisons, the justice minister said construction of a new wing is at an advanced stage and will solve the overcrowding problem, whilst a bill has been prepared for electronic monitoring of suspects. He said this will be one of the alternative measures to ensure a suspect’s court appearance, with the decision left to the court’s discretion.
On the critical issue of installing a mobile phone jamming system, he said information about the operating timeline was provided the day before yesterday. He added that in 2026 a new camera system will be installed throughout the prisons.
Another pending issue for which he faces criticism concerns the juvenile detention centre. According to legislation, the facility should operate in early 2026, but this is not feasible because, as Hartsiotis explained, this matter is linked to the Limnes pre-departure centre in Menogia. “That’s why we’re requesting a law change to grant a new extension for the children’s detention facility operation until 1 January 2027,” he said.
On football violence, the minister said “we are in a third round of consultations regarding the two bills that were prepared and will be sent back to parliament”. He also said:
• Regarding Cyprus’s entry into the Schengen zone, we are at an advanced stage and the technical structure and specifications are nearing completion.
• He characterised the arbitration bill as difficult because everyone is involved. This is at the Legal Service for legal and technical review.
• An advanced telephone call system linked to the pan-European 112 line is coming in 2026.
• Regarding the Driver Training School, the tender was cancelled after only one person submitted an offer and it was found they did not meet the tender terms. Consultation has taken place and the tender will be re-announced within six weeks, so the school can operate in the first half of 2026.
It should be noted that because the justice minister left the committee before all MPs could ask questions, it was decided to reconvene in Hartsiotis’s presence.
Confrontation over “inadequacy”
The minister faced personal criticism from AKEL MPs Aristos Damianou and Andreas Pasiourtidis, resulting in a heated exchange.
In his remarks, Damianou said there are murders in broad daylight in residential areas, protected rights of expression are being violated, and fires occur despite being fully prepared. “You have caused the biggest institutional crisis of all time, different handling was needed and parliament is called to arbitrate. There is intense public insecurity today despite the measures being taken,” he said.
For his part, Pasiourtidis accused the minister of trying since 2021 to create a juvenile detention centre. “I would be ashamed to bring a bill for a new extension, I congratulate you for bringing it. For the prisons, the new system still hasn’t been installed and they broke it, it’s a crime headquarters, whilst the surveillance law was passed and then not implemented.”
Taking the floor, the minister said he would “disregard the two pre-election statements from the two AKEL MPs. For the juvenile detention facility, this will be the current pre-departure centre in Menogia. Space redesign will begin after Limnes is ready, which will be completed in the first half of 2026. Legislation on telephone monitoring and telecommunications data is at the Legal Service. For phone jamming, we’ve proceeded and installed a very modern system inside the prisons building. The system has no damage whatsoever, a €10 sensor was destroyed and has been replaced.”
Pasiourtidis: They do whatever they want in the prisons and you tell us it’s a €10 sensor. When it becomes €100, let us know.
Hartsiotis: Mr Pasiourtidis, you won’t be able to walk in reality with the exaggeration that possesses you. Many issues you’ve raised are bordering on exaggeration.
Damianou: Let’s talk about how you have repeatedly attacked us. I spoke about your inadequacy, Mr minister.
This reference provoked a strong reaction from Hartsiotis, who said: “Look for inadequacy in your party and your representatives, Mr Damianou. The inadequacy is in your party and your representatives”.
The justice minister also responded to Damianou’s remarks about the institutional crisis due to reform at the Legal Service. He stressed that “no crisis has occurred. The government’s objective is fixed. It’s not only a pre-election commitment, it’s the recommendation of international committees”.
