Police to set up special bureau to tackle prostitution

A RISE in prostitution on the island has prompted police Chief Tassos Panayiotou to order the setting up of a Human Trafficking Prevention Bureau.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, police spokesman Demetris Demetriou said Panayiotou was concerned over the rise in prostitution on the island and that the issue was top in the police’s list of priorities.

“The European Union and other international organisations are particularly sensitive on the issue of human trafficking,” Demetriou said.

“The human trafficking prevention bureau will be a purely operations department that will co-ordinate police stations and services and will work closely with the Crime Prevention Unit, the CID with international police forces,” he added.

Demetriou said the bureau would examine and evaluate information concerning human trafficking activity on the island and other related crimes.

“There have been eight new cases of prostitution from March 18, and the CID has launched an investigation into another case today,” said.

“Three of the cases under investigation took place in Limassol, three in Nicosia, one in Paphos and one in Famagusta.”

Demetriou said the 11 prostitution cases are under investigation from March 15 until yesterday and that 29 people – 15 foreigners and 14 Cypriots – were arrested.

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