An internal review has been sparked within the Cyprus police force following an alert from the national Audit Office regarding repeated traffic law violations by officers driving patrol cars and other government vehicles.
Key points from the audit and subsequent internal review include:
- Violations Confirmed: An internal audit by the headquarters’ traffic division confirmed a significant number of violations, such as speeding, committed by police officers, including those in security details for political figures.
- New Process Introduced: In coordination with the Attorney General’s office, police have introduced a formal process where a special form is sent to police departments responsible for flagged vehicles. Department heads must determine if the violation was justified (e.g., if committed in the line of duty). If documented in official police activity logs, no further statement from the officer is required.
- Delays in Cooperation: Police leadership has faced delays in getting full cooperation from all departments, with many cases remaining unresolved by mid-May, prompting a directive from the police chief to expedite the process by May 30.
- Ongoing Scrutiny: The Audit Office is expected to conduct further on-site checks as part of its ongoing review.