CYPRUS – Specific measures during COVID-19 crisis

1) Good practices on communication with victims and crime reporting

The Office for Combating Cybercrime of Cyprus Police runs the following webpage: https://cyberalert.cy, which enables victims of cybercrime to report a complaint online.

2) Good practices on organisation of support and protection

The website mentioned above publishes security warnings to the public arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. fake news or apps, bogus websites, how cybercriminals profit from COVID-19 crisis, financial fraud linked to COVID-19 health crisis). Also informs the public about advisory warnings issued by Europol, Interpol and FBI related with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Police handle/investigate all reports regarding domestic violence, taking all necessary steps required, depending on each case separately, including applying to courts for the issue of protection orders for the victims (given that during this period the Courts in Cyprus function normally as regards the trial of serious and urgent cases).

Considering the increased risk factors existing for women and children (social distancing, isolation at home exclusively with the perpetrator), further steps have been taken by the police, aiming at effectively protecting the victims in these circumstances.

These include the following:

• An internal police circular has been issued (by the Chief of the Police), directed at the first line police members, especially those serving at the local Police Stations and the Community Policing, in order for them to be alert as regards these issues.
• Certain procedures, already in progress, aiming at the adoption of new technologies for the benefit of victims of violence in the family and women in danger, have been accelerated.
• As regards video-recorded statements from children- victims of domestic violence, given that the special rooms used are sometimes quite small, special arrangements have been made so that in all cases safe distancing is ensured according to the provisions of the special measures taken.

3) Other good practices

In general, cases of Domestic Violence, as all other cases and incidents reported, are handled by the Police in full compliance with the special measures implemented towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 (use of protective equipment in the police stations and other police premises, use of antiseptics, temperature taking, etc).