Police to protest demo prosecution, salaries

In view of the attorney-general’s decision to criminally prosecute two police officers over the use of excessive force during the “Os Dame” protest last year, grievances within the force keep mounting with a police union intending a protest over low salaries.

The attorney-general’s decision was taken following a recommendation by the criminal investigators, appointed by the independent authority to investigate allegations and complaints against the police, after they had noted the use of excessive force against a person during an anti-Covid measures protest.

Daily Phileleftheros, citing sources, said that the prosecution of the two police members concerns the pinning of a bleeding person to the ground for a long time as recorded on video.

Disciplinary procedures over the conduct of other police members will also take place, sources say.

Notably however, the investigation attributed no responsibilities for the use of Aeandas water-canon that permanently damaged a protestor in the eye.

Members of the riot squad on Monday expressed their intention to hand their gear in and break off from their duties but were eventually convinced against it after meeting with Nicosia’s police director Yiannakis Georgiou on Tuesday.

“Os Dame” protests took place last year to demonstrate against corruption and the coronavirus measures.

At the same time, the Isotita police union is organising a protest outside the justice ministry on September 23 over low salaries.

“The symbolic protest will take place to hand a written memorandum to the minister concerning the income upgrade of 4,000 low paying members of the police force who have lost 30 per cent of their income in the past years and now find themselves at the bottom of the payroll,” Isotita police union said in an official announcement.

Cyprus Police Association for its part issued its own announcement stressing that it is “the only legally competent body to negotiate terms of employment and demands of police officers” assuring that efforts towards the upgrading of the salary scales have been taking place in the past four years.

The association called members to stay away from extreme acts while branding some members of the force as “emergent messiahs”.

Head of Isotita union Nikos Loizides talking to Sigma television on Tuesday, said that neither the ministry of justice nor the presidential palace heeded their letters seeking resolution over the low pay of many of its members and therefore a protest is the correct course of action.

“They work 25 days a month, their state allowances have been slashed by 30 per cent in the past years, they work in a dangerous profession…retire at 62,” Loizides said.

“In no European country do police members serve after the age of 55,” he added.

Moreover, commenting on the prosecution, he insinuated that the independent authority investigating complaints against the police, brings forward criminal charges against police members in its effort to justify its existence and funds received per annum.

Referring to the “Os Dame” protest, he said that police stood against hooded individuals bearing clubs moving aggressively towards Disy’s headquarters and alleged that protestors were throwing lemons with razor blades stuck in them and referred to a manifesto, insinuating a manifesto calling for violence.

In reference to the use of excessive force, Loizides said that the “proportionate use of force is misunderstood” and that “either somebody should explain to us what the proportionate use of force would be against Molotov’s, knives, and clubs, or the [Police] hq should order flowers and sweets and hand them out to these people.”

“You either want the enforcement of order or want ordinary citizens and policemen dead in the streets,” Loizides said.