The recent attempted murder in Limassol involving a police officer, who shot his wife before taking his own life, has reignited discussion over the assessment criteria and psychological fitness of officers authorised to carry service weapons.
The issue is expected to be raised in Parliament, while proposals are already being made to tighten the existing procedure. Nikos Loizides, president of the police branch of the Isotita trade union, has proposed that certification for the possession and use of service weapons be renewed every three years instead of every five, as currently required. He has also called for the renewal process to include a psychological assessment, which is not presently provided for.
Not all officers carry firearms
The perception that all police officers carry weapons is incorrect. Officers are not required to carry service weapons while performing their ordinary duties.
The relevant police order governing permits for carrying and transporting firearms, which came into force on 1 August 2024, explicitly states that the transportation of a service weapon in places or circumstances where it is not necessary should be avoided.
Possession of service weapons
The possession and use of a service weapon require a competency certificate confirming that the officer has the necessary knowledge and skills to handle it.
The certificate is renewed every five years by the commander of the Mobile Immediate Action Unit. The renewal procedure, however, does not include a psychometric examination or psychological assessment. It focuses on operational competence and the correct use of the firearm.
Most police officers carry a service weapon only while on duty. This was also the arrangement applying to the Port and Marine Police officer involved in the fatal incident in Limassol.
Some members of the force are authorised to carry a weapon outside working hours. This applies either to officers serving in specialised or sensitive units or to cases where an increased personal risk has been identified.
The relevant approvals are granted by the responsible police directors or commanders following a recommendation from the officers’ immediate superiors. The weapons issued in such cases are mainly pistols or revolvers. In exceptional circumstances, when serious security reasons exist, a different type of weapon may be approved.
Armed around the clock
Under the police order, specific categories of officers are entitled to carry personal service weapons even when they are off duty.
These include officers responsible for the protection of public figures who do not report to a police station or other police facility before beginning their duties.
The authorisation also applies to officers responsible for the security or escort of the President of the Republic and the President of the House of Representatives.
Officers assigned to protect the police leadership are also covered, while members of the police leadership are themselves authorised to carry firearms.
The same applies to officers serving in specific operational departments and services, including the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, the Crime Combat Department, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Mobile Immediate Action Unit, the Crime Prevention Unit, the Intelligence Management and Analysis Service, the Aliens and Immigration Unit, and officers acting as first responders to armed incidents.
Officers who face a serious risk or receive threats because of their police status or their current or previous duties may also carry a service weapon both on and off duty for their personal protection.
To obtain such authorisation, an officer must submit an application to the Committee for the Issuance of Firearms for Personal Protection. The committee consists of the Deputy Chief of Police, who serves as chair, the Assistant Chief responsible for crime prevention and combat, and the director of the Intelligence Management and Analysis Service.
Display of weapons prohibited
Police officers carrying firearms while dressed in civilian clothing must take all necessary measures to ensure that the service weapon is not visible.
The police order strictly prohibits officers in civilian clothing from displaying a service weapon in a demonstrative manner or exposing it publicly.
Withdrawal of a firearms permit
Under the police order, the relevant police director or commander must review every case involving the need to issue a service weapon once a year, or at any other time if circumstances require it.
A named list of officers who have been granted permanent personal authorisation to carry firearms must then be submitted to the Chief of Police.
The firearms permit is withdrawn and the officer concerned must return the weapon, ammunition and related equipment to the storekeeper of the relevant district or unit if the officer fails the examination required to obtain a competency certificate for the possession and use of a service weapon, or if the certificate is suspended for any reason.
The permit is also withdrawn when an officer is transferred to duties that do not require the possession of a personal weapon.
Weapons must also be returned before an officer leaves the police force, including when beginning leave following the approval of a resignation, pre-retirement leave, leave following compulsory resignation or dismissal.
Calls for assessments by psychologists
Referring to the possession of service weapons, Nikos Loizides told the Cyprus News Agency that police officers renew their certification for the use of a service weapon every five years.
He clarified that the procedure concerns only technical knowledge and weapon-handling skills and does not include a psychological assessment.
He proposed that firearms permits be renewed more frequently, every three years instead of every five, and that the process include a short interview or assessment by police psychologists.
“Instead of the renewal taking place every five years, it could be carried out every three years and include some form of interview, allowing psychologists from the human resources department to determine whether an officer is experiencing psychological strain or any problem affecting their mental clarity,” he said.
