Police unions demand meetings with government over new duty schedules

As of June 3, 2026, police unions in Cyprus, including PASYDY, the Police Association, and the Isotita union, are requesting urgent meetings with the President of the Republic and the Minister of Justice regarding the Chief of Police's unilateral decision to modify duty schedules. The Isotita union, led by Nikos Loizidis, has strongly criticized Chief Themistos Arnaoutis, alleging that his changes have reduced annual rest days and negatively impacted operational readiness. The conflict centers on a letter sent by the government to the European Police Confederation (Eurocap) on May 28, 2026, which the Isotita union claims contains inaccuracies. PASYDY emphasizes the need for a responsible, institutional dialogue, while Isotita threatens potential protests if no solution is reached. Isotita has called for a joint front with the Police Association to address these concerns. Furthermore, the union stated that if the government does not intervene, they will raise the issue before the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee upon the return of the legislative session. The Chief of Police maintains that the schedule changes fall within his authority, while unions argue that these changes were implemented without proper consultation.