According to the police, there have been 24 attacks on food delivery drivers and 14 arrests recorded from the beginning of the year through June 30. This number already exceeds the total number of cases for 2025, even before the current year has ended, and does not include the attacks in July, as well as the recent attack in Paphos, which resulted in five injuries.
As Police Spokesperson Byron Vyronos told CNA, there were a total of 23 attacks in 2025, leading to 18 arrests.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
He also said that these incidents are of particular concern to the police, who are investigating them with the utmost care. “These are serious incidents. Based on the evidence we have and the investigations we’ve conducted, it appears that the motive for the attacks is financial—that is, to steal money,” he said, adding that no other motive has been established so far. He also said that there were theories that the attacks were carried out by fellow countrymen of the distributors “for personal reasons or due to financial disputes.” When asked if there had been many such cases, Mr. Vyronos said he did not have a specific number.
He also noted that this year, nearly half of the cases have occurred in Limassol. Specifically, he said there were 13 cases in Limassol, 6 in Nicosia, 4 in Paphos, and 1 in Larnaca.
Police Advice to Drug Dealers
Regarding police efforts to prevent this phenomenon, Mr. Vyronos said that meetings are being held at the local level to address the issue, and that they have prepared an English-language brochure, which was posted in recent days on the Cyprus Police’s social media accounts, offering advice to delivery drivers. He also said that the brochure will be printed and distributed to the delivery workers themselves during meetings to be held with them in the coming days through their companies or employers.
In this brochure, the Cyprus Police provide eight basic prevention and safety tips for food delivery workers regarding confirming the delivery address before arriving at the destination and, if there are any unusual instructions, to confirm them by phone. Additionally, they are advised to choose well-lit locations, whenever possible, to stop and complete deliveries; to remain alert for suspicious behavior, especially if they notice someone following them, is following them, or if approached by groups of people, to avoid carrying large amounts of cash—only what is absolutely necessary—and to opt for cashless payments whenever possible. In addition, delivery drivers are advised to keep their cell phones ready for use, avoid making deliveries in isolated locations, secure their vehicle and personal belongings, and, if they are threatened or attacked, to immediately report any incident. Finally, if they feel they are in danger, the police urge them not to confront or resist the perpetrators, to move to a safe public place, and to immediately call the police at 112.
When asked about preventive measures regarding the perpetrators, Mr. Vyronos said that “We are carrying out various operations, with a police presence at various locations that we have identified as potential sites where such incidents could occur. But at the same time, we are also conducting special operations—which are not visible to the public—so that we can identify them at an early stage.” He also issued an appeal for help: “Whether it’s authorities—public authorities, social authorities—or citizens, every citizen, if they have any information, they can share it with us.”
Security depends on renewing the contract, say the unions
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The SEK and PEO unions are also monitoring the issue and are expected to put forward specific demands regarding the safety of delivery workers, as part of the discussion on renewing the sector’s collective bargaining agreement.
As Neophytos Timinis, Secretary General of SYXKA-PEO, Neophytos Timinis, noted that there is an upward trend, while emphasizing that the attacks are not motivated solely by robbery nor are they isolated incidents. “It is part of the rise in xenophobia within our society. Robbery is just a pretext,” he said.
He added that, as part of the collective bargaining agreement renewal, requests and proposals have been submitted that promote transparency through the algorithm, so that “we, as labor unions, can also identify certain issues, bring them to the table, and work to reduce incidents of violence against delivery workers.”
He also said that among their demands is the replacement of the tools they use while on the job, such as their vehicle, cell phones, and personal protective equipment—which should be replaced in the event that they are attacked while on the job or suffer any kind of accident.
For his part, Charalambos Avgoustis, Secretary General of OMEPEGE–SEK, said that a meeting with the Department of Labor Relations is expected to take place during the first ten days of September, which will mark the start of discussions on renewing the contract. She also said that the union’s demands include issues related to worker safety. She added that there had been discussions and meetings on the matter in the past as well. “We had put some ideas on the table. The truth is that quite a few of them were not implemented,” he said.
He also mentioned that a meeting had taken place with the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Labor, specifically with the relevant departments, during which they had proposed the idea of an emergency alert system—a proposal that has not yet been implemented, as Mr. Avgoustis noted.
Source: CNA
