Investigations launched over alleged unauthorised police database access

Nicosia, Cyprus. Criminal and disciplinary investigations are under way into allegations that police officers accessed information from police computer systems without authorisation and passed it to third parties.

Isotita union chief Nikos Loizides said the investigations concern allegations of unauthorised retrieval of information from police databases.

Anti-corruption complaint

The disclosures follow the anti-corruption authority’s rejection of an anonymous complaint alleging that police officers used the force’s telecommunications and information systems to obtain information for criminal elements.

The authority said it could not examine the complaint further because the person who submitted it could not be contacted to provide additional information or clarification.

It said the reported incidents did not in themselves indicate an act of corruption and that specific evidence was needed to establish a corruption offence.

Potential disciplinary issues

The authority said that, if supported by sufficient and reliable evidence, the allegations could raise issues of a potential breach of official duty, improper conduct or a serious disciplinary offence.

It terminated its examination of the complaint and directed the complainant to submit it by name to Aadipa, the watchdog responsible for investigating complaints against police.

System access records

Loizides told Politis on Wednesday that each police officer has two unique codes for access to police computers and the force’s information system.

He said the electronic systems record who accesses information, what is searched for and which documents are viewed or printed.

Had the complaint identified the officers allegedly involved, their activity could have been checked against those electronic records, he said.