Newsroom
Delivery drivers in Cyprus could soon have access to an emergency “red button” that would alert police directly if they are attacked, under a proposal put forward by Justice and Public Order Minister Kostas Fytiris.
The idea was discussed with companies operating delivery platforms as authorities look for ways to improve the response to attacks against drivers.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Fytiris said the proposal would allow a driver to alert police immediately, giving officers the chance to respond as quickly as possible.
The minister stressed that the system would require agreement from the delivery companies and would take some time to put in place.
Money carried by independent drivers
Fytiris said discussions with delivery platforms had also established that not all drivers work directly through major companies. Some operate independently and may be carrying significant amounts of cash.
For this reason, he said he believed robbery was the motive in many attacks rather than racial hostility.
The minister also addressed speculation that some incidents could be connected to drug trafficking.
He said police were investigating that possibility and pointed to a large number of recent arrests and the dismantling of criminal networks.
“Networks are being dismantled and new ones are being created, either individually or in an organised manner,” he said, stressing that police would continue targeting those involved.
Drivers could be used by criminal networks
Asked whether there was evidence that delivery drivers themselves were participating in drug networks, Fytiris said some drivers could potentially be used by criminals as intermediaries.
He described such individuals as the “hands” of a network, saying authorities' responsibility was to pursue a criminal operation from its lower-level participants through to those directing it.
The proposed emergency button is intended to address one of the practical difficulties facing police: officers cannot be stationed everywhere delivery drivers work.
Fytiris said the system would only be effective if drivers were also able to notify authorities quickly when an attack takes place.
