Nearly 300 special constables (Sea) serving in the Cyprus police force are set to leave their posts this summer as their fixed-term contracts expire, sparking discontent and potential protests among officers who claim their roles cover permanent needs.

According to a report on Philenews, the officers, hired under two contracts (18 and 10 months) since April 2023, have been deployed in critical areas, from patrolling the Green Line to guarding migrant detention centres and manning police checkpoints. But by July 2025, their agreements end, with no clear path to permanent roles or public sector absorption.

An internal police memo confirms that 179 officers will depart on July 16 without financial compensation for unused leave.

One affected officer, speaking anonymously, revealed plans for a protest initiative, arguing the state found a solution for similarly contracted military personnel (Syop) but not for police.

“We serve on the frontlines, covering permanent needs, yet we’re called ‘temporary, ’” they said. The officer cited EU labour laws, stressing that fixed-term contracts cannot legally fill permanent positions without offering conversion to permanent roles.

Police unions SAK and Isotita pushed for solutions, including exam-based promotions mirroring military reforms. President Nikos Christodoulides announced 300 new permanent posts for Green Line security in December, but existing officers must reapply competitively.

“Their recruitment was always temporary. Exams they’ve taken won’t count toward future applications,” police spokeswoman Kyriaki Lambrianidou confirmed, no further extensions. She cited long-standing staffing gaps from post-2013 hiring freezes but assured efforts to bolster numbers.