Police in Britain’s military bases in Cyprus said they made 80 arrests and carried out more than 700 checks of boats and other watercraft during the peak summer season, wrapping up two coastal operations.
Operations Guardian, in the western Sovereign Base Area, and Sentinel, in the east, ran from June to August and focused on coastal areas and surrounding roads, where traffic increases in the summer months, the Sovereign Base Areas Police said.
Lady’s Mile and Kourion beaches, among the most popular on the island, drew more than 700,000 visitors. Police recorded 74 arrests in the area and opened 12 criminal cases.
In road safety checks, officers logged 22 cases of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and five of dangerous driving.
The police Marine Unit issued 35 fixed penalty notices in the Dhekelia area after conducting 712 checks of boats and jet skis across Cyprus.
Under Operation Sentinel, officers carried out 100 patrols to protect the coastline and 26 sea safety campaigns on beaches along the Ormideia-Xylophagou coast and in the Cessac, Fairwinds and Luma areas.
Superintendent Melina Papagrigoriou said she was pleased with the results in both the west and east.
“Our coastal areas are a popular destination for residents and visitors throughout the summer, and policing them requires a constant presence on land and at sea,” she said. “Our officers were there to help the public, respond to incidents and take action when behavior put others at risk.”
She thanked police, staff and partner agencies for their contributions and said the results would inform planning for next summer.
With the seasonal operations over, Papagrigoriou said routine policing and patrols will continue on both sides of the island.
“Our officers will remain ready to identify and prosecute any criminal activity,” she said.
