Cyprus government reforms police guard policy for officials

The Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order announced a fundamental overhaul of the police protection framework for state officials and political figures, effective in September 2026. This reform ends the longstanding practice of the Cabinet having a role in approving guard details, a custom dating back to the 1970s that lacked specific legislative grounding. Following a legal opinion from the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry clarified that risk assessment and the assignment of police personnel are exclusively institutional and operational responsibilities of the Cyprus Police.

Under the new system, objective criteria will guide a committee that conducts risk assessments every six months. Protection will be adjusted or terminated if the need is not explicitly documented. This shift aims to eliminate the misuse of police officers as personal chauffeurs or for non-security tasks. The process began two months ago when Minister Costas Fytiris voluntarily gave up his own static 24-hour guard detail.

The reform targets several high-profile figures. Protection will be fully withdrawn from former House Presidents Yiannakis Omirou and Dimitris Syllouris, as well as Elsi Christofias and Androulla Vasiliou, the widows of two former presidents. Reductions are also planned for former President Nicos Anastasiades, who currently utilizes 12 officers, and other active officials, including House Speaker Annita Demetriou, AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou, and DIKO leader Nikolas Papadopoulos.