THE cabinet and justice ministry are once again mulling over a decision to reduce police escorts following recent police recommendations, it emerged yesterday
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said that they submitted their report to the justice ministry several weeks ago before it goes to the cabinet which has the final say.
“It is a confidential decision,” Katsounotos said. “The police report concerning the guarding of politicians was sent, with recommendations, to the ministry of justice to inform the council of ministers.”
He added that the police do not choose the size of escorts, but acts according to the cabinet’s instructions.
The issue of police protection has resurfaced three months after the justice minister sent recommendations to the cabinet to cut escorts for current and former state officials, and following a Philelefteros report that revealed their cost runs into the millions.
Among the most excessive escorts is for DIKO chairman and former House President Marios Garoyian, who has 14 police guards.
In a statement yesterday, DIKO sought to deflect criticism saying that police guards were the exclusive responsibility of the authorities, and that Garoyian had “neither asked for nor sought” the escort.
The paper also reports that honorary EDEK president Vassos Lyssarides, a retired politician in his 90s, has 12 policemen in tow, while former President Glafkos Clerides has six.
Current House President Yiannakis Omirou, who declined to comment on the matter yesterday, has ten guards according to the paper.
In June it was reported that his escort size doubled to six upon his appointment, although Alithia newspaper said at the time that he actually wanted to reduce it to four or five because his house did not require guards.
In contrast to Garoyian, Lyssarides and Omirou, some politicians have declined the state’s offer of a security detail, such as Green Party MP George Perdikis, and EVROKO’s Demetris Syllouris.
Syllouris said yesterday: “I don’t have (a police guard) because first of all I believe I am quite safe. I do not think one policeman and one driver gives any protection (from an attack). If we want more security we should increase it generally.”
Asked why he thought current and ex officials maintained such large security details, Syllouris said it could be down to “old fashioned attitudes”.
“I don’t underestimate the dangers, but this is not the way.” He said.
Cypriot politicians’ fondness for large security details is in marked contrast to some other countries, such as the UK, where some senior ministers travel with just two policemen, and can be spotted moving unaccompanied between meetings in Whitehall.
Last year UK Prime Minister David Cameron even dispensed with his police motorcycle outriders. In Nicosia, police motorcycle outriders are frequently seen escorting President Demetris Christofias.
