Murders in broad daylight, crime with international connections, criminal networks operating from inside prisons, killings behind bars, cyber fraud, corruption cases, escalating violence on multiple levels, impunity, fragmented responses, social distrust, collective outrage, the emergence of a culture of revenge and citizens taking the law into their own hands.
Andreas Kapardis, Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Cyprus, Honorary Research Professor at the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge and member of the European Academy of Sciences, outlines the crime landscape in Cyprus. He speaks about delays in the administration of justice, citizens’ justified fear, the prevailing sense of impunity, the absence of political management through tested institutions and tools, and puts forward concrete proposals.
Serious crime is rising and offenders are changing. Where has the state failed?
The absence of a national strategy for the effective tackling of crime is a reality. The state is constantly trying to catch up instead of anticipating, planning and staying ahead. I believe this failure lies more with the Ministry of Justice than with the Law Office.
Justified insecurity
We have reached the point where murders are committed in broad daylight. There is widespread insecurity among citizens…
Organised crime has existed in Cyprus for decades and continues to exist today. And yes, citizens’ insecurity is justified in the sense that there is a perception of danger. However, we should also reassure the public: the greatest danger on Cyprus’s roads comes from traffic accidents, not murders. Still, public perception is understandable. There is a problem, and it requires a more professional, scientific approach based on a national strategy drawn up by experts and delivered within weeks.
Street justice
Another phenomenon we are seeing is the rise in crime committed by ordinary, previously law-abiding citizens who decide to take the law into their own hands.
This is a documented global phenomenon, one of the consequences of Covid. Lockdowns and the new reality made us more impatient and irritable. We lose our temper more easily and react impulsively. We see this everywhere. The price paid for the long-standing absence of a crime strategy is heavy. In a society where everything seems to be collapsing – what I see as a transitional phase – traditional institutions and values are eroding. Citizens feel vulnerable in terms of identity and dignity. As a result, the instinct to defend one’s honour, dignity and identity comes to the forefront, often leading to overreaction, such as pulling a knife.
I would add one more explanation: as a society, we have never invested in conflict resolution through education. Peaceful dispute resolution is not taught in schools. If you have a disagreement, there are alternatives to violence. Education plays a role here too, and it has failed. This is why we see tragic incidents even within families, with the most vulnerable paying the price.
Endemic illegality
Institutions themselves have also been eroded. Public trust in them has collapsed. When those in power violate the law, citizens feel entitled to do the same.
Illegality has always been endemic in Cyprus, part of the local culture. Historically, it was the law of the occupier – from Ottoman rule through colonialism. Even after the establishment of the Republic, a tendency towards illegality persisted. What you said is correct: when people see institutions collapsing, trust evaporates. And because the media often amplify negativity, the perception of lawlessness is reinforced. We move from illegality to anomie – the breakdown of the rule of law.
Solutions exist – but is there a vision?
Eurobarometer consistently records low trust in institutions, including the justice system. Does delayed justice lead to lawlessness?
Unfortunately, civil cases take seven to eight years and criminal cases one to two years to conclude. These are chronic failings. The state does not invest in modernisation. Any reform takes years: bills move between the Law Office, parliament and committees, with endless consultations. In countries where I lived and worked for 25 years – particularly common law jurisdictions – this is not the case.
What do they do differently?
They rely on two mechanisms. First, law reform commissions staffed by top-level experts. Second, task forces. When a serious social problem emerges, governments do not rely solely on politicians and parliaments. An expert task force is appointed with a clear mandate and a short timeframe to deliver solutions. I have served on such bodies abroad and strongly recommend this approach.
We showed the way – but did not follow through
This reminds me of the failure to tackle stadium violence and hooliganism over the past 30 years. Fan cards were introduced late, but violence simply moved outside stadiums.
Between 2010 and 2016, a highly effective intervention programme targeting youth antisocial behaviour was implemented in Nicosia, originating in Latsia Municipality. It led to an internationally published study on multi-level responses to antisocial behaviour in and outside schools. The programme is now applied in Germany and Scandinavia. A Norwegian colleague recently told me: “Andreas, the programme that started in Cyprus is now being used in the Nordic countries.”
Is it applied in Cyprus?
It was applied then. The knowledge exists. Effective solutions exist. We are not helpless. What is missing is political will.
Central Prisons
Fifteen years ago, we discussed crimes orchestrated from within prisons. The issue remains unchanged.
The institution has been in crisis for years. Leadership is part of the problem. Directors change constantly. The prison population has changed significantly, while staff morale is low. The solution must be holistic. The institution needs evaluation and clear answers as to why it is failing.
We still cannot block mobile phones in prisons…
Phones function because of corruption. Measures must be taken. Corrupt individuals must be dismissed.
Your proposals?
We need effective prison management and a national strategy with immediate, medium- and long-term measures, investing not only in repression but also prevention. Drawing on my experience as Director of Central Prisons in 1991, a simple yet effective measure would be the introduction of small-unit management: large wings divided into smaller units, with inmates rotating weekly. This has multiple advantages.
FBI-style unit: a positive step – if done right
Each time something happens, we express shock and announce measures, but they are fragmented and short-term. The same problems re-emerge.
That is how an unserious society functions in the 21st century. Cyprus deserves better. Our youth deserve a better future. Expertise exists. Capable people exist. What we need is a national strategy drafted by experts, drawing on international best practice. Singapore, for example, has been highly successful in tackling crime.
The creation of an FBI-style unit within the Cyprus Police is a positive development – if done properly. The FBI investigates even the US President. Will such a body here have real powers and political backing? If so, it could be an excellent step forward.
This article was originally published in the Politis Sunday Edition.