The Police insists on the same narrative in relation to the incidents at the Griva memorial, where despite the warnings, as a result, they seem to have been caught sleeping once again, with the hooligans to turn the streets into a battlefield, without anyone having time to prevent them.
Despite the intense criticism received from various directions by the Police and in particular the leadership of the Force, with the shots coming from the members of the Corps themselves who, not only deny their superiors in relation to the number of police officers who took part in the business, but they speak of incorrect and amateur manipulations.
However, the leadership of the Force, through its representatives, since the Chief once again remains silent, like the Minister of Justice, defends the actions of the Police, rejecting the criticisms, even speaking of creating wrong impressions in relation to the information received while wondering what exactly went wrong.
In his statements on state television, the Police spokesperson, Christos Andreou, said that, “there are some reports that we see in the print and online press. We want to position ourselves precisely because, many times, impressions are created without possibly corresponding to reality. Specific things have been mentioned, regarding some information provided, for example, by the Police about the possible existence of some incidents. We should clarify that the information that existed was not specific, it was general. That is, there was no information that such a large number of people would move from Nicosia mainly to this particular point. The estimate we have is that there were around 200 people. It was a bus, the rest came in their civilian vehicles. We identified the bus, we identified it when some persons were found to be traveling on that particular bus, we have secured the registration numbers and we will conduct an examination. We had a live image via drone, at that particular point”.
In relation to the criticisms, even from the police officers themselves who were at the scene, for the incorrect handling, which resulted in the hooligans' plans not being prevented, Mr. Andreou said: “Some people are referring to mistakes. No one has mentioned more precisely what the mistake was? The mistake is that since last year's incident, the same ceremony, which was policed with nine members of the Police and this year after this information there were 80 of our members in the relevant business plan. There are some inaccuracies and impressions are left. Out of all these policemen, there were two riot squads, among them there were only 13 members, who were cadets. Here's how for a member of ours to be a member of an anti-harassment team, he receives training in the motorized action team. Without the relevant training, no member is in the anti-harassment teams, with all the equipment. We have seen several things, that we have left our policemen, the policemen where the leadership with their actions shows how much they care about the policemen”.
At the same time, he said, “the fact that no citizen was injured, no one sees that. Of course our members were injured, precisely in an attempt to impose order. They had intervened and led outside, outside the specific area, those 200 who came to do the episodes so that there would not be any issue with the persons who were there. You realize that there were also grown people, women, children. This great effort was made, no person was injured. Arrests may not have been made directly there. But they followed immediately after the conclusion of the event, there were five arrests and two more yesterday. We have twelve other persons, whom I am wanted, or are wanted”.
In reference to the strong reaction of the Police Unions, who fire against the leadership of the Force and speak of embezzlement and amateurism, Mr. Andreou replied that, “we haven't heard what was the mistake? Regarding the existence of the bus, the information was received after the end of the event. The very reason we couldn't stop it was precisely because it was this mob. Patrol on the highway was prevented from stopping on the grounds that there would be more incidents once we had the evidence and the tests followed. Among the persons who have been arrested are from the province of Nicosia, Limassol and even from the free city of Famagusta. We only had 13 probationary police officers who had been trained. According to the protocols, they are always with more experienced police officers so that they get any instructions they need to avoid any trouble. As for the inexperienced, we reject that. We say it every day, we never hide, we always tell the truth. We at least try to respond as best we can. Where we make mistakes and omissions, we certainly admit it. But in this case, we believe that nothing untoward happened”.
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