20 March 2010
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Cyprus is an island situated in the northern - eastern part of the Mediterranean sea. The capital and the seat of Government is Nicosia.
Cyprus is an independent, sovereign republic with a presidential system of govern-ment. Under the 1960 Constitution of the Republic, executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term of office. The President is assisted in his executive duties by a Council of Ministers appointed by him. Legislative authority rests with the House of Representatives elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term and the administration of justice is the responsibility of a separate, independent judiciary.
The main objectives of the Cyprus Police are the maintenance of law and order throughout the Republic, the preservation of peace, the prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension of offenders, the protection of the population and public installations, the improvement in the movement of road trafic and the reduction of road accidents. Cyprus Police have the authority to act throughout the territory of the Republic based on the following legislation:
Under construction. The NCB, which is the only Interpol office in Cyprus that operates at the Police Headquarters, comes under the direct command of the European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate which is administratively and operationally under the Chief of Police through the Assistant Chief of Police (adm). The European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate is responsible for issues relating to European Union and coordinates and checks all the actions and activities of the police which are related to the European course of Cyprus. The National Central Bureau of Interpol, co-ordinates and assists in the investigation of any crime, in Cyprus or abroad, when the investigations fall within the framework of International Police co-operation and it may grant Judicial and Police Assistance to foreign countries.
Under Cyprus law only the competent authorities of the Cyprus Republic may carry out investigations on the territory of the Republic. Requests for general information or investigative actions must be sent to the Cyprus NCB which will forward them to the appropriate police departments. In general, a request for international judicial assistance must be sent to the Ministry of Justice and Public Order by 'letter rogatory' with a copy to the Cyprus NCB, which will ask the appropriate Cypriot police department to make any necessary enquiries.
(*) Arrests may only be made pursuant to a judicial warrant,
except in the case of a flagrant offence.
 3.1
General
Free access to justice, the right to a fair trial and the right to recourse to the courts against public authority measures are prescribed and ensured by constitutional provisions. In criminal cases, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guitly according to the Law. Nobody can be tried twice for the same offence and the punishment cannot be disproportionate to the severity of the offence. Arrest and detention are judicially controlled. The judiciary is established by the Constitution and the relevant Laws as an independant, self governing and self administered body in the State. It is organised on a two levels system:
Criminal jurisdiction is exercised at first instance by the District Courts (summary trial before a single judge) for offences punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years and/or a fine not exceeding C£ 50.000, and by the Assize Courts (trials on information before three judges) for offences punishable with imprisonment exceeding 5 years. Appeals lies in every case. All appeals are tried by the Supreme Court. On appeal a sentence may be reduced if considered either manifestly excessive or wrong in principle. It may also be increased if held that it is grossly inadequate. The jury system is not followed in Cyprus. All judges are professional. Criminal proceedings for any offence against any person in the Republic are
instituted, conducted, taken over and continued or discontinued by, or under
the instructions of the Attorney-General, an Independant Officer who holds office
on the same terms and conditions as judges of the Supreme Court. Criminal Courts may handle international requests in accordance with the multilateral and bilateral treaties ratified by Cyprus.
(*) All mentioned means are possible according to the national legislation, but the means marked are being familiarised by the police
4.3.1 Cypriot Liaison officers posted abroad
4.3.2 Foreign Liaison officers posted to Cyprus United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Greece, Russia.
The Cyprus Police and the Customs and Excise Departement signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 29 of August 2001. This was effected in compliance with the Resolution of the European committee 486Y1212(01) dated, the 29 of November, 1996. Within tyhe framework of this MOU, both services have appointed Liaison officers, which are in regular contact in order to enhance the cooperation deriving from the provisions of the MOU. The existing cooperation between the Police and the Customs and Excise Departement, focuses in the following sectors:
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