The Grant Agreements were signed on 29th January 2024 between the European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior, as the Managing Authority of the Home Affairs Funds, and the Cyprus Police, as the Beneficiary, for the financing of the following projects:
• Strengthening the police investigation of serious crimes
• Police Training Program for Border Management
Strengthening the police investigation of serious crimes
Within the context of the Specific Objective 3 “Preventing and Combating Crime”, the Cyprus Police will implement actions aiming to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Service to effectively prevent and combat crime, and specifically actions which contribute to the strengthening and upgrading of serious crime investigation and the operational capabilities of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Nicosia and the Headquarters, as follows:
• Purchase of specialised transport means, such as offline vehicles/motorcycles, 4Χ4 vans to examine crime scenes, a mobile Crisis Station/Centre and centre for taking statements.
• Purchase of specialised IT equipment, such as 3D scanners, drones, flammable substance identification equipment etc.
• Purchase of other IT equipment, such as laptops/workstations, mobile UV light equipment etc.
• Training on scene investigation, forensic ballistics, gunshot residues-gunpowder, blood stain identification, as well as on how to handle family violence victims and human trafficking victims.
• Purchase of financial analyst services, with the aim to effectively carry out financial investigations by reducing the time of case investigation and improving the time of crime resolution and the quality of cases sent to Court.
The project is implemented within the context of the Internal Security Fund, and it is jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, with a total budget of € 1,062,300.28. The project implementation period is: 21/06/2022 - 31/12/2025.
Police Training Program for Border Management
The aim of the project is the continuous training of the Police members in maritime border control subjects, the correct implementation of the Schengen Acquis, the use of maritime border surveillance systems and information exchange systems which are installed in the National Coordination Centre (EUROSUR Application Training) and the effective operation of the coast guard, aiming at the same time to strengthen their capabilities during marine operations and controls.
Specifically, the project is pertinent to training programmes and information visits about the following topics:
• Implementation of the Schengen acquis
• Law of the Sea – Jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus
• Sea Border Mobility
• EUROSUR Application Training
• European Coast Guard Functions Forum
Within the context of the project implementation, 752 members of the Police from the European Union and International Police Cooperation Directorate, the Port and Marine Police, the Cyprus Police Academy, the Administration and Human Resources Department, the Traffic Department, the Crime Combating Department, the Directorate of Airports Security, the Professional Standards, Audit and Inspection Directorate, the Immigration Office, the Emergency Response Unit, the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, the District Police Departments (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Famagusta, Morfou), as well as 40 people from other Services, such as the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Ministry of Interior (Civil Registry and Migration Department and the Asylum Service), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance are expected to participate in the training programmes. Finally, actions pertinent to the supply of IT equipment and application software and Publicity and Communication actions are included.
The project implementation will contribute to strengthen security, mainly at the European borders, as well as the maritime borders of Cyprus, as well as reinforce information exchange and the cooperation between the Member States, trace and identify wanted persons, strengthen controls at the external borders, combat crime and terrorism, protect the missing and vulnerable persons, as well as prevent illegal immigration.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Border Management and Visa Instrument, and it is jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, with a total budget of €263,808.50.
Project implementation period: 01/10/2022 - 31/12/2025.