Commenting on a complaint alleging that police officers colluded with criminal elements and illegally used the Police’s telecommunications and information systems, Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytiris said no complaint involving police officers goes without investigation.
“There’s no other way, the police force needs to be cleaned up,” he said, adding that more than ten officers have been suspended over the past six months for breaching their oath of office, and that any who are convicted will be removed from the force.
The complaint was examined by the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority, which said in its own announcement on the case that the alleged conduct does not, on its own, amount to an act of corruption under the law.
It said establishing an act of corruption requires specific constituent elements and sufficient evidence, and that the conduct alleged, even if confirmed, would not by itself meet the legal definition, which requires an illegal act linked to bribery, abuse of power or trust, or another form of unlawful benefit.
The Authority added that, because the complaint was anonymous, it had not been able to seek further information or clarification from the person who submitted it. Taking all of this into account, it concluded that the facts set out in the complaint were not sufficient to establish any act of corruption, and terminated its investigation into the matter.
However, the Authority said the conduct described in the complaint could still amount to a breach of official duty, misconduct or a serious disciplinary offence, matters which may fall under the jurisdiction of other competent authorities.
It said the same complaint could be resubmitted, under the complainant’s name, to the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police (IAIACAP).
On the policing of sports events, Fytiris said that, in the long run, sports clubs should bear the cost of security at matches, though he acknowledged such a change would take time to bring in. Until then, he added, police could not stay away from matches classified as high-risk.
