Dialogos

Loizidis: “Police are Losing 5-0 to the Underworld”

Published January 20, 2026, 11:03
Loizidis: “Police are Losing 5-0 to the Underworld”

The president of the ISOTITA union, Nikos Loizidis, launched a scathing criticism of the Cyprus Police, accusing them of underperformance and inadequate tackling of organized crime. He argued that the Police are “losing 5-0 to the underworld” and that there is a division between the leadership of Headquarters and the provincial directorates. Mr. Loizidis accused the police leadership of being absent from crucial presences in the provinces and of shifting responsibility to citizens and mayors. He stressed that the Police are the state and have a duty to enforce the law. He referred to incidents that remain hidden from the public and police officers who fear being targeted. Furthermore, Mr. Loizidis accused politicians and MPs of populism and dismissing the union's proposals for reorganization. He emphasized that expertise, structures and legislation are needed to effectively tackle organized crime, not generalizations. He called for an immediate meeting at the Presidential Palace with clear timelines and decisions.