‘This will be a multi-faceted campaign based on solid measures’
THE POLICE yesterday announced sweeping measures in the face of a dramatic spike in robberies over the last year.
The announcement was made yesterday by police media officer Michalis Katsounotos after a meeting between Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas and district police directors.
According to Katsounotos, “In the first three months of 2008 we saw 13 robberies and for the first three months of 2009 we have had 31 robberies.
“These numbers have caused us great concern so we have decided to call this meeting so that we can take action,” said Katsounotos, adding that, “this will be a multi-faceted campaign based on solid measures.”
The move comes despite a decrease in the overall crime rate, which according to statistics, has dropped 15.7 per cent over the last year. There was also a corresponding five per cent drop in crime solving.
A visible, 24-hour police presence in the cities and the regional areas, with specific targets for increased patrols to be selected. Instructions have been given to the district police directors to come into personal contact with all directors of co-op institutions, banks and kiosks in order to provide them with instructions on how they should react in the event of a robbery.
“We want to encourage an informed and succinct response. Proper action should be taken by any citizen without them endangering their own lives.”
Instructions were also given for an increased involvement of neighbourhood officers with visits to kiosks, bakeries and other buildings that may be potential targets for robbers.
Katsounotos said, “They will be given a brochure informing them on what actions they should take in the event of any criminal action against them”.
The traffic department will also be directly involved with 24 hour traffic controls across the Cyprus road network.
Temporary roadblocks are part of the measures and each district will choose the specific points to set up blocks without warning in order to search suspicious vehicles, pedestrians and others to prevent and solve such crimes.
Katsounotos said, “the rise in robberies is surrounded by various factors but the economic crisis is probably one of the links in the chain”.
Asked whether some shops should not operate on 24 hour basis, Katsounotos said: “We are an EU member state and we cannot deprive anyone of their right to carry out their profession.
“It is a measure which might be considered an implicit restriction on the exercise of free trade. There cannot be such a proposal.”
