The government is set to consider a major overhaul of security arrangements for politicians and senior officials, with Justice Minister Costas Fytiris expected to present his proposals to the Council of Ministers next week.
The review follows Fytiris' own request for the 24-hour police guard stationed at his residence to be replaced by a closed-circuit security system equipped with smart cameras. Similar arrangements could be introduced for other current and former officials whose homes are currently under constant police protection.
The move forms part of a broader effort to free up police officers for operational duties while maintaining appropriate security measures through modern technology.
Risk assessments completed
The police Security Committee, which is responsible for decisions regarding the protection of politicians and officials, has completed individual risk assessments for each person currently receiving police protection and submitted its findings to the minister.
The question now is whether Cabinet will adopt Fytiris' recommendations. The minister has publicly stated his intention to reduce the number of officers assigned to personal protection duties and redirect them to frontline policing.
Key decisions facing Cabinet
Among the issues Cabinet is expected to consider are:
Protection for new party leaders
A decision must be made on whether police protection should be provided to the leaders of the two new parliamentary parties, Odysseas Michaelides of ALMA and Fidias Panayiotou of Direct Democracy Cyprus.
Panayiotou's case is viewed as unusual because he spends much of his time in Brussels in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament. If protection is approved, it would likely apply only when he is in Cyprus.
Possible increase for ELAM leader
Cabinet will also consider whether to expand the security detail of ELAM leader Christos Christou following the party's stronger electoral performance.
Questions have long been raised about whether the number of officers assigned to politicians is determined primarily by a party's electoral strength rather than by objective security assessments.
The Audit Office criticised this practice in a report published in 2023.
If the same approach is followed for ELAM, Christou's security detail could increase from two officers to four.
Future of EDEK's security detail
Another issue is whether EDEK leader Nikos Anastasiou should continue receiving police protection following the party's loss of parliamentary representation.
Anastasiou currently retains the three officers assigned during the tenure of his predecessor, Marinos Sizopoulos.
DIPA leader retains entitlement
Although DIPA also lost its parliamentary representation, party leader Marios Karoyian remains entitled to police protection because of his status as a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
More than 40 officers assigned
More than 40 police officers are currently assigned to protect party leaders, former presidents and former speakers of parliament.
Current allocations include:
- Annita Demetriou, Speaker of the House and DISY president: 10 officers
- Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL secretary-general: 4 officers
- Nicolas Papadopoulos, DIKO president: 4 officers
- Nikos Anastasiou, EDEK president: 3 officers
- Marios Karoyian, DIPA president and former House speaker: 2 officers
- Christos Christou, ELAM president: 2 officers
- Nicos Anastasiades, former president: 12 officers, including round-the-clock protection at his Limassol residence
- Dimitris Syllouris, former House speaker: 2 officers
- Yiannakis Omirou, former House speaker: 2 officers
Demetriou's security detail was increased after recent threats against her, with additional officers assigned to guard her residence.
Former first ladies still protected
Police confirmed that former first ladies Elsa Christofia and Androulla Vassiliou each retain a police officer.
Former first lady Fotini Papadopoulou relinquished both her police driver and state limousine in 2011.
Archbishop also receives police protection
The Archbishop of Cyprus is currently assigned two police officers.
Questions over the necessity of that protection and the nature of the threats being assessed can only be answered by the police committee responsible for security decisions.
Questions over Hartsiotis case
The case of Marios Hartsiotis has also drawn attention.
Despite being moved from a ministerial position to that of commissioner during last December's reshuffle, he retained both his police protection and official vehicle.
Following a complaint to the Audit Office over the alleged personal use of the government limousine, he was reportedly informed that the vehicle could only be used for official purposes and that travel between his home in Limassol and his office should be undertaken using his private vehicle.
Hartsiotis remains the only commissioner with a police security detail, consisting of one inspector and one police officer.
