NICOSIA — Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytiris said Tuesday that no complaint involving police officers will go without investigation, responding to a newspaper report alleging cooperation between officers and criminal elements.
The report, published by Politis, said a complaint had been filed with the Anti-Corruption Authority alleging that police officers were collaborating with criminals who illegally accessed the force’s telecommunications and information systems to search for data and documents. The Authority was required to dismiss the complaint because it was submitted anonymously, according to the report.
Fytiris said the matter would still be examined, stressing that the standard practice is to investigate all complaints regardless of their source.
He said more than 10 police officers have been suspended over the past six months for violating their oath of office, and indicated that officers who are ultimately convicted will be dismissed from the force.
“There’s no other way — the police need to be cleaned up,” Fytiris said.
On the policing of sporting events, the minister said clubs should eventually be required to pay for security at matches, though he acknowledged that implementing such a system would take considerable time. For now, he said, police cannot withdraw from matches classified as high-risk.
