CAT/OP/CYP/1/Add.1
Order “Rights and Treatment of Detained Persons” will also be amended in order to comply
with the Law.
14.
The Minister of Justice and Public Order, mindful of the need for Police Officers’ to
fully respect citizens, has sent official orders to the Chief of the Police, asking him to take
additional measures so that the members of Cyprus Police fully comprehend the notions of
responsibility, respect and protection of all citizens.
15.
All Police Officers who perform administrative work show alertness and intervene
in time in cases where there appears to be danger of authority abuse and violation of citizen
human rights. Additionally, instructions were given in order to reinforce the members’
education, especially through training on protection, respect for human rights, police ethics
and legal framework application, supported by other state services or academic foundations.
16.
In this regard, the Police has taken various measures for the promotion of human
rights, the protection of the rights of detainees and the prevention of ill-treatment. Some of
these actions are listed below:
1.
Circular letters
17.
As regards ill-treatment, the Chief of Police, following instructions from the
Minister of Justice and Public Order, has issued circular letters, (dated 2.7.2014, 17.9.14
and 10.3.15) informing Police members that the Attorney General, after having examined
various criminal interrogations and administrative investigations concerning citizens’
allegations of abuse and/or exercise of violence by Police members, gave instructions that
when such allegations are reported, he must be informed promptly (within a maximum of
24 hours), so as to enable him to exercise his powers, which includes the power to assign
independent criminal investigators to examine the allegations. Furthermore, the
Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the
Police, which has competence to act ex-proprio motu, must also be informed within 24
hours.
18.
Moreover, the Attorney General gave the following instructions on procedures to be
followed by the Police:
• The previous practice of Police conducting administrative or criminal investigation
of such cases is terminated;
• Whenever a person files a complaint of having been abused or subjected to violence
by Police members, he/she must be examined by a forensic pathologist, who in turn
must submit a relevant report on his/her findings. The report is then forwarded to the
Attorney General;
• If such a complaint is filed by a foreign national, the Head of the Aliens and
Immigration Service is also informed, so that no deportation proceedings are
executed;
• In addition, circulars are also sent to members of the Police concerning human rights
and treatment of detainees. Specifically, instructions were given to all police
personnel on the following issues:
- Transportation of all immigration detainees from police detention centers to
Menoyia Detention Center within 48 hours,
- Implementation of the visiting schedule, according to the relevant Police Standing
Order and placement of signs in all police stations with the visiting hours,
- Information of persons arrested and detained of their rights, both orally and in
writing,
- Systematic inspection of detainees’ files in order to ensure the proper completion of
the file,
- Placement of the Detainees Rights in the cells,
- Guaranteeing the right of the arrested person for contacting a person of his/her
choice in the presence of the Police,
4