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Police Union Challenges Chief's Decision on Work Hours

Published January 22, 2026, 17:24

The recent decision by the Chief of Police to change the working hours of police officers has sparked strong reactions and disagreements in the Parliamentary Legal Committee. Despite protests from police officers and discussions with unions, the Chief insists on implementing the decision. According to Nikos Loizidis, President of the Police Branch of the ISOTITA union, the abolition of shift work does not lead to increased productivity, but to physical and mental fatigue of police officers. ISOTITA has appealed to the Administrative Court to overturn the decision, with the case scheduled for hearing on February 4th. Mr. Loizidis also questioned the use of the 1 million euros saved from shift work, asking if it will be used for salary increases. He also addressed the rise in organized crime, emphasizing that extortion and protection are a significant source of income for criminal organizations. He highlighted the need to create an extortion unit, as is the case in other police forces. According to Mr. Loizidis, the main problems facing the Police are the slow response to daily crime and the inability to prevent organized crime. The Cyprus Police Association, with its President Angelos Nikolaou, will participate in a discussion at the Mixed Staff Committee on January 27th, aiming to find a solution. The overall situation demonstrates the tension between the police leadership and the officers, as well as the difficulties the Police face in tackling crime.