The specialised police unit in Larnaca, established to combat family violence, has been receiving nearly two complaints daily, Phileleftheros reported on Tuesday.
The year 2023 alone saw 700 complaints, involving cases such as rapes and the abuse of children and spouses.
Since its inception on 15 February 2021, the unit has dealt with a total of 2,115 complaints, with the numbers showing a yearly increase: 625 in 2021, 790 in 2022, and 700 in 2023. The past year’s figures included 140 instances of child abuse, 450 cases of violence against spouses or partners, 90 of parental abuse by children, and 8 rape investigations.
Of these, 300 cases have progressed to criminal prosecution, leading to 80 arrests. The majority of these incidents have been jointly handled with Social Welfare Services, focusing on the urgent need for victim removal and protection.
Despite the persistently high levels of family violence complaints across Cyprus, there is a noticeable declining trend, which the police attribute to the effectiveness of these specialised units. Police spokesperson Christos Andreou provided insights into the nationwide statistics: 3,347 cases in 2021, 3,082 in 2022, and a slight decrease to 2,941 in 2023.
Andreou noted the importance of conducting investigations discreetly to protect victim privacy and ensure that cases are properly addressed in court. He said he witnessed a positive shift in victim behaviour, with more coming forward to report abuses, and credited the thorough and immediate investigation of such serious crimes for the decreasing trend.
“The selected members of the Police received appropriate training and now there is a more suitable environment and better treatment towards the victims, as these are sensitive cases. Our members receive continuous training in both investigation and psychological support of the victims to encourage them to make complaints and not withdraw them. There is special treatment for victims, especially minors, and for this reason, video-recorded statements are taken. We try to investigate these cases as quickly as possible so that a long period of time does not elapse,” Andreou noted.
