Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

I always wondered why policemen needed to carry truncheons.

Don't they have Taser stun guns like Brit and American cops do? They make the 'don't talk back to me' treatment look much more 'civilised' when used ...

Cyprus Police have these instruments as well.

Probably acceptable to use them as well provided the person is resisting arrest, or being violent, but that man was just standing there. Obviously, words were exchanged and then the beat him up.

[Cap]

How many times have any of you on this forum been randomly stopped for a drug search?
Raise your hands.

I rest my case.

Well....?

[Paphitis]

A well deserved beating of a punk who thought was above the law!

Excellent work by the police.

You should heed your own name and 'get real'. If you really think summary beating is a proper way for police to operate then heaven helps us.

In this case it was the correct course of action.

Yeah if you are happy to live in a banana republic.

You think many other countries are better? In the USA if somebody tried to attack a policeman with a knife he would be shot dead on the spot. The Turkish jails are filled with political prisoners and obviously they do not install cameras in their cells to show how they are treated. Some "policeman" in the north was among the ones who beat up to death a GC demonstrator some years ago. In many other countries such event would not even be news and would not receive such coverage by the media... it would be just business as usual. Obviously Cyprus is not the best country when it comes to the police, but it is far from the worst. The fact that they install cameras in the police stations and that the media is buzzing with this incident shows that our society demands better so hopefully soon the situation with the police will be further improved.

Any police officer has a right to defend themselves. A knife could kill them.

I mean that would be a defensible position if this occurred.

[Paphitis]

Actually no. The behaviour of the police in this case is disgusting.

You can't beat the shit out of him for not cooperating. He had a right to have his Lawyer present.

No he doesn’t! Get your facts right… if he hasn’t been processed then the arrest isn’t complete and if the arrest isn’t complete then there’s no need for a lawyer!

What do you mean the arrest isn't complete? What is it you want him to do. Sign some papers, or answer or admit to things?

He was in the station for questioning. He should have a Lawyer present to safeguard his rights and by the looks of it his wellbeing too!

[Paphitis]

Er lawyers actually tell their clients to not answer any questions until they are present. I guess it depends what you mean by "processed" but usually, you have the right to have a Lawyer present beforehand. That also inudes before they search your vehicle or home etc.

Who said anything about answering questions? He wasn't there for an interview... he was under arrest pending a day in court for assault.

Then what kind of cooperation did you want from him? If he was under arrest, let him call his Lawyer.

You stand before a counter… empty all your pockets, take off your shoe laces, give out your full details, police count the cash on you etc, jot everything down, read your rights, get you to sign the paperwork and take you to a proper jail cell.

Take it from someone who got arrested for a DUI! I have EXPERIENCE!

That sounds like a situation where the accused should have a Lawyer present especially where there is money involved.

Otherwise it's just his word against the cops and the judge is always going to believe the cops.

[Get Real!]

That sounds like a situation where the accused should have a Lawyer present especially where there is money involved.

Otherwise it's just his word against the cops and the judge is always going to believe the cops.

Bullshit! They count the money in front of you and jot down the amount on the form so you can get it back afterwards.

Maybe you need a lawyer when you go to the toilet too… in case you need a nappy change!

[Paphitis]

That sounds like a situation where the accused should have a Lawyer present especially where there is money involved.

Otherwise it's just his word against the cops and the judge is always going to believe the cops.

Bullshit! They count the money in front of you and jot down the amount on the form so you can get it back afterwards.

Maybe you need a lawyer when you go to the toilet too… in case you need a nappy change!

Oh forgive me for not having faith. The police are able to do what they want. Not saying they would lie but it has been known not just in Cyprus but in many countries.

The guy has a right to have his Lawyer present for any interaction with the police and can even be present as he empties his pockets.

If the individual simply requested for his Lawyer to be present, then the police had an obligation if for no other reason other than transparency. It would have been a situation that was instantly diffused without any of this nonsense as well.

Now the way I see it is that the man will walk free and charges will be dropped. The police officers however are in deep shit! It's all on camera.

Now this man's Lawyer will have a field day against the police. They will probably apply for aggravated assault and have those 2 coppers charged.

No one is above the law, not even these stupid coppers.

[Sotos]

You think many other countries are better? In the USA if somebody tried to attack a policeman with a knife he would be shot dead on the spot. The Turkish jails are filled with political prisoners and obviously they do not install cameras in their cells to show how they are treated. Some "policeman" in the north was among the ones who beat up to death a GC demonstrator some years ago. In many other countries such event would not even be news and would not receive such coverage by the media... it would be just business as usual. Obviously Cyprus is not the best country when it comes to the police, but it is far from the worst. The fact that they install cameras in the police stations and that the media is buzzing with this incident shows that our society demands better so hopefully soon the situation with the police will be further improved.

Firstly thanks for proving Lord's prophecy right. I said if you believe that the police should be allowed to operate outside the law and dish out such summary beatings then you believe in living in a banana republic. I did not say the RoC was a banana republic or that it is worse (or better) than else where. This incident happened in the Cyprus, you know the place we live and that the forum is named after ? In any SANE environment, that had any true sense of 'law and order' and modern western democratic ideals, that so many of you profess to hold in such high regard elsewhere, such actions as seen on this video would be condemned. Yet in the mad house that is Cyprus forum all we get is 'you think many other countries are better ?' and 'a little over the top' but the guy was 'asking for it'. We have had one poster describe it as disgusting, someone with 4 posts on the forum to date. From the 'usual suspects' we get the usual bullshit.

So Sotos, is what these policemen did acceptable to you ? Is the kind of Cyprus YOU want to live in one where police should be allowed or even encouraged to behave in such ways ?

Of course it is not acceptable. And it is not acceptable by the Cypriot society in general which is why this incident became a main news story. So it is OBVIOUS that it is not acceptable for the great majority so basically I agree with your first post. But then Lordo's comment about Cyprus being a "banana republic" and your comment which repeated his claim is totally incorrect. Police brutality is a world wide phenomenon, even in western democracies and especially in the USA.

The annual average number of justifiable homicides alone was previously estimated to be near 400.[2] Updated estimates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics released in 2015 estimate the number to be around 930 per year, or 1240 if assuming that nonreporting local agencies kill people at the same rate as reporting agencies.[3] The Washington Post tracked shootings (only) in 2015 and on May 30 reported a rate so far that would be equal to 937 shootings/year (385 as of that date).[4] The Guardian is also tracking killings in 2015 and counted 464 killed as of the end of May (rate of 1122/yr)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_k ... ted_States

I can assure you that in the USA if a suspect attacked a policeman with a knife he would be shot dead on the spot and the case would be included in the "justifiable homicides". So basically far worst than even what GR is suggesting that should be done. Is the USA a banana republic?

[erolz66]

Of course it is not acceptable.

Well thanks for making that clear because from your first post it certainly was not clear that this was your view.

And it is not acceptable by the Cypriot society in general...

Yet apparently not to the 'independent investigator' nor to the likes of GR, for whom it is not only acceptable but actually worthy of praise and encouragement. Still expecting and hoping you to have anything to say about GR's view on this matter is too much I guess.

So it is OBVIOUS that it is not acceptable for the great majority....

Obvious to you maybe but not so obvious to me based on the comments I have seen here so far.

...and your comment which repeated his claim is totally incorrect.

And once more you need to read what I actually wrote and meant and understand it, not what you think I wrote and meant or would like to. Once more, unlike Lordo I did not label the RoC a 'banana republic' based on this incident. I pointed out that someone (GR) who PRAISED such actions by the police as the 'correct course of actions' was expressing a view of someone who WANTS to live in a banana republic. If you can not or will not see the difference then I can not help you with that.

[Get Real!]

Last year I was caught driving through an illegal road used only by ambulances (that little bridge underpass thingie close to the Mall) and got pulled over.

The police man asked: “What’s your excuse for driving in a road….”

I replied… “No excuse, I was taking a shortcut in the hope of not getting caught.”

Cop: “Ok, well there’s a $40 fine for doing that.”

Me: “Ok, I’ll pay it.”

As simple as that! You do the crime you pay the fine and shut up!

Why can’t everyone else be like me and OWN UP when you do wrong and face the consequences?

The cops are always courteous and obliging so I have nothing bad to say about Cypriot cops. I'm with them 100%.