“We have a problem with prison escapes,” admitted Nikos Loizidis, president of the Police Branch of the Equality Union, who addressed the problems involved in transporting detainees to court while speaking on the Alpha Kalimera program about the escape of an 18-year-old from a police van.
Mr. Loizidis emphasized that the administrative investigation into the escape is ongoing and that it will provide answers as to why the 18-year-old was not handcuffed and whether—and for what reason—the inner doorof the van was open.
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At the same time, he noted that “there are more than 50 transfers daily from police headquarters—police headquarters alone—to all the courts in Cyprus. There are additional transfers from the Special Transport Unit from Central Police Headquarters to all courts.”
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Meanwhile, as he added, there are no holding cells in the courthouses that can accommodate more than 15 detainees.
“So, having a police van parked outside—because there isn’t enough space inside the buildings to accommodate the number of people who are to be tried that day—creates the first problem.”
Commenting on the open door, Mr. Loizidis stated that if there was any malfunction, it is something that, in his estimation, will be investigated as part of the administrative inquiry.
“There may have been some kind of problem at that moment. It may not have closed properly at that moment for whatever reason. People make mistakes; perhaps the door was left open to let in some air, given that the cage was in the sun.”
The door might have opened, he added, to give them water.
At the same time, he emphasized that his remarks do not negate the responsibility of the human factor.
“Since there was no room to put the detainees in the holding cells, there’s no protocol. Where are those who don’t fit in your courthouses supposed to be held? Your courthouses can’t accommodate them, gentlemen. What do you want us to do? Tie them to the trees outside? Park the van in the sun and give them water because, after all, they’re human beings too.”
When asked if there is no air conditioning in the police van, Mr. Loizidis replied, “It’s not the same thing. Anyone who has an opinion should come here so I can put them in the cage and then put them in the car—let them tell me if it’s the same thing.”
As Mr. Loizidis added, there is no protocol for cases where detainees cannot fit in the court holding cells, “because no one anticipated that the police would be making 50 arrests a day, filling up the cells, leaving no room in the courthouses, and no room for transport.”
Meanwhile, as he noted, the police officers guarding the detainees must escort them to and from the courtroom, monitor the transport van, and provide them with water.
He emphasized that there is a responsibility regarding the physical facilities.
As for handcuffs, if there are specific reasons—such as, for example, if the detainee needs to use the restroom—they may be removed.
