Cyprus Parliament approves use of police body cameras

The House of Representatives of Cyprus has passed an amendment to the Police Law, authorizing the use of body-worn and vehicle-mounted cameras by police officers. The bill was approved with 24 votes in favor. Cameras will be activated during specific operations, including arrests, physical searches, vehicle pursuits, responses to crime scenes, and high-risk operations such as hostage situations or armed robberies. The legislation includes privacy safeguards, such as the requirement to inform citizens when recording is active and the use of technical blurring during sensitive physical searches. All recorded data will be stored in an encrypted format for a maximum duration of six months, unless required for legal proceedings. Unauthorized access or misuse of the footage is classified as a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison. Member of Parliament Nikos Tornaritis described the move as a modernization step intended to enhance transparency and accountability. While most sources reported the 24-vote approval, one text noted the amendment was passed unanimously, suggesting a potential discrepancy in voting records.