Nicosia, Cyprus. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said the public must be made an ally, stressing that no security system can be truly strong without citizens’ trust and cooperation. He was speaking on Thursday at the Police Academy graduation ceremony for cadets from intakes 159, 160 and 161, where he inspected assembled ranks of new officers.
Call for public trust and professionalism
Fitiris described the ceremony as a moment of renewal and reinforcement, saying graduates had consciously chosen to serve society and that police officers have a responsibility to serve both the law and the public.
He said the police are a fortress of security and a barrier that protects public order, safety and people’s trust in institutions, adding that the force maintains social cohesion.
Fitiris said the current era presents increasingly complex challenges, including evolving organised crime, changing forms of delinquency and high public expectations of the police. He said expectations must be met with professionalism, seriousness and a clear focus on the mission.
He urged new officers to give particular weight to the phrase, “nothing educates like example and nothing commands like propriety,” adding that the uniform confers responsibility reflected in everyday actions.
Prevention and community cooperation
Fitiris said modern policing is not limited to suppression and reaction, with prevention playing a decisive role. He reiterated that society must be made an ally, because without trust and cooperation from citizens, no security system can be truly strong.
Post-ceremony remarks
After the ceremony, Fitiris called the occasion a day of celebration for the police and said it was the first time he attended a police ceremony. He said he was impressed by the level, ethos and spirit of the new generation, adding that each generation contributes and helps the force reach required standards.
He compared the ceremony to oath-taking events in the National Guard, saying it brought back memories and that he was impressed and moved by what he described as depth, infrastructure and spirit within the police.
Police modernisation plans
Police chief Themistos Arnaoutis said the current period is transitional and that, together with the justice minister, they have decided to modernise the Cyprus police in operational capacity and readiness, public response, information gathering and management, and especially the fight against organised crime.
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