Here is yet another story showing the soft side of Cyprus police:
At around 5am yesterday morning, the police chased a 24 year old across town who failed to stop when the police signalled him for an alco-test. The chase started in Kennedy street, and finished when he was captured at his house in Mammari village in the Kokkinotrimithia area. During the chase he went through 3 police road blocks injuring a policeman who was trying to stop him. At some point he drove into the buffer zone near his village forcing the police to stop chasing him; on his way back to the free areas he injured a second policeman. The police was forced to use their firearms in order to immobilise his car but even under fire and with broken tires the 24 year old continued driving. He managed to reach his house where he attacked another policeman and entered his house refusing to come out. He was finally arrested yesterday at 15:00. The police is holding the 24 year old’s car as evidence while they are suspecting that he entered the buffer zone to dispose illegal items he was carrying. His father claims his son entered the buffer zone because he was scared and the he didn’t notice the police road blocks due to limited visibility.
And yet you can only see the soft side only when it comes to locals. Try do that as a foreigner and add xenophobia on top of that :-)
I’ve had a few experiences when I ignored police instructions to stop.
Once on the highway, I was speeding and didn’t notice them until it was too late even to stop. So I just passed by. They caught up with me in a few seconds and I pulled over. They were very polite and friendly while writing me a fine.
The second time, I ignored their request to stop while driving home from a party. I was way over the limit and they were doing alcotests. I just drove passed them and luckily they decided not to chase me. There were no consequences to that one time.
I’ve had a number of speeding offenses in my early years, and even a few related accidents, but at all times police was friendly. Sometimes even too friendly. :)