CYPRUS
Cypriot Police Chief, Zaharias Chrysostomou said the arrest of three of his officers charged with people trafficking was the first time the force had had to deal with such a matter since the foundation of the Republic.
He urged the Government to do whatever was necessary to stamp out corruption across the Public Service.
Mr Chrysostomou said he acknowledged the problem, but also the gaps that hindered efforts to stamp it out.
“It is the first time since the creation of the police force in 1960 that we are tackling this problem adequately,” Mr Chrysostomou said.
“The force has conducted a study which shows the real dimension of the problem and has set up an internal affairs service, which has been granted the necessary powers and legal tools.”
The police chief said the overwhelming majority of officers were conscientious and dedicated and honoured the oath they had taken.
“Let us not fool ourselves, corruption does not only exist in the police, it spans the entire Public Service, and I know well what I am saying,” Mr Chrysostomou said.
His comments came as the Cypriot Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that one PS employee had been fired and eight others were forced to retire or were otherwise sanctioned over the past 12 months after being found guilty of offences including taking bribes and trafficking in illegal substances.
One officer was forced to retire after prolonged, unjustified absences from his workplace and for failing to present for duty, the PSC report said.
Presenting the Agency’s annual report, Head of the PSC, Georgios Papageorgiou said reforms were necessary for an effective Public Service and called for the introduction of examinations, competence tests and assessment centres for senior positions.
He said that following a lengthy hiring freeze in the public sector due to the economic crisis, more than 22,000 people had expressed interest in the 176 job posts announced over the past few months.
Nicosia, 15 September 2018
