Cyprus Port and Marine Police

Cyprus Port and Marine Police Limeniki kai Nautiki Astinomia Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία Liman ve Deniz Polisi
Abbreviation	Λ. & Ν.Α.
Patch of the Cyprus Port and Marine Police
Agency overview
Formed	1960
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agency (Operations jurisdiction)	CY

Size	Areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus – 157.28 nautical miles - 37.71% of the coastline Excluding Turkish occupied areas: 218.11 nautical miles - 52.29% of the coastline Buffer zone: 2.4 nautical miles, 0.57% of the coastline Sovereign British Bases: 39.32 nautical miles - 9.43% of the coastline (Nautical miles = 1852m²)^[1]
Population	838,897 ^[2]
Legal jurisdiction	Territorial waters: 12 nautical miles from the coast^[1] Contiguous zone: extends from the point the territorial waters and ends up to a distance of 24 nautical miles from the coast.^[1]
Governing body	Cyprus Police
Constituting instruments	The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus^[3] Police Law 73(I)2004^[3] Criminal Code Cap.154^[3] Criminal Procedure Law Cap.155^[3] Evidence Law Cap-9^[3] The Processing of Personal Data (Protection of the Individual) Law 138(1)/2001^[3]
General nature	Law enforcement Civilian police
Specialist jurisdiction	Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
Headquarters	Limassol, Cyprus
Police Officers	about 330 personnel (2005)
Minister responsible	NICOLAOU Ionas^[4]
Agency executives	Zacharias Chrisostomou ^[5], Chief of Police Unknown ^[6], Commander
Parent agency	Cyprus Police
Departments	Ports Marine Technical Support Radar Surveillance^[7]
Facilities
Port and Marine Stations	9 ^[8]
Boats	5 Fast Sea Patrol Boats 5 Patrol Boats 6 Rigit Inflatable Boats^[9]
Website
http://www.police.gov.cy/

The Cyprus Port & Marine Police (Greek: Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία, Turkish: Liman ve Deniz Polisi) is the marine police and the civilian Coast Guard wing of the Cyprus Police, and are tasked with the primary mission of law enforcement of the waters around, and control of the sea borders of the Republic of Cyprus. Main roles are reported to include law enforcement of illicit activities such as smuggling, terrorism, piracy and illegal fishing. The Cyprus Port and Marine Police also serve a role as a search and rescue (SAR) force. This force is equipped with patrol boats and radars.

Cyprus Marine Police boats are notable by the "PV-" (Patrol Vessel) and "PL-" (Patrol Launch) prefixes on their pennant numbers, painted on the side of the hull.

A Brief History ^[10]

In 1956 a special committee, set up by the then British Colonial Government for the re-organisation of Cyprus Police, included in its report a proposal for the establishment of a Port and Marine Police in Cyprus. The new Service was set up the following year equipped with seven boats. It operated as an independent Police Division with its headquarters at Famagusta and 2 permanent stations in Limassol and Larnaca. It also had a sub-station in Kyrenia which operated during the summer. In 1960, with the establishment of the independent Republic of Cyprus, the Port and Marine Police became a branch of the Police and the Gendarmerie.

The Turkish invasion of 1974 was a great blow for the Port and Marine Police as its installations at Famagusta Port were destroyed and five out of its seven boats were seized by the Turkish Army. After this great loss it continued to operate but only with two boats at its stations in Larnaca and Limassol. Its headquarters were transferred from Famagusta to the old port of Limassol.

Developments Since 1974

In 1981-83, two Plascoa launches were acquired from France, equipped with 1 20mm Oerlikon L70 cannon, one 12.7mm and two 7.62mm machine guns. One of them was deleted from the service in 1991, another in 2000-2004.

In 1986, six local build Astrapi V (Fletcher Malibu) small Speed Boats.^[11] Later (circa 2004-2006) replaced by NOVAMARINE R.I.B. boats.

In 1991, two FAC-23 patrol vessels were acquired from Yugoslavia, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 7.62mm machine guns ^[12] , later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns.

In 1992, five SAB-12 launches were transferred from Germany to Cyprus, without armament.^[12]

In 1998, a single Shaldag patrol vessel was acquired from Israel, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns,^[12] later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns.

In 2004, Cyprus took delivery of two FPB 30M (P-190) class patrol vessels from Cantierre Navale Vittoria.^[13] These were initially equipped with 1 12.7 mm and 2 7.62mm machine guns (on the forecastle,^[12] later also replaced with 12.7 mm machine guns).

In 2010, according to local press,^[14] Port and Marine Police fleet planning to receive 2 more patrol boats (Length - approx. 15-16 meter, Width - 4–5 meters, Speed - not less than 43 knots).

In 2013, according to local press,^[15] the Port and Marine Police acquired two new police boats, that were purchased from Greece, as part of the cross-border cooperation program between the two countries. The two boats were purchased for €60m and are equipped with portable thermal scopes and other sophisticated equipment to combat various forms of organised cross-border crime such as illegal immigration and the smuggling of drugs and weapons in the area. The €48m of the total cost of the program has been funded by the EU.

Administration

Headquartered in Limassol the Port and Marine Police is administered by its Commander and Assistant Commanders.

The Commander has both administrative and operational responsibility and is accountable to the Chief of Police through the Assistant Chief of Support.

The Port and Marine Police includes the following offices: Message Control Centre, Registry, Stores, Accounts Office, Security Office and Operations Office.

Stations

The Port and Marine Police is made up of the following stations:

Latsi Port and Marine Station
Paphos Port and Marine Station
Limassol New Port Station
Limassol Marine Station
Ayios Raphael Marina Port Station
Larnaca Port and Marine Station
Larnaca Marina Port Station
Ayia Napa Marine Station
Paralimni Marine Station