The Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) Police has announced the establishment of a new Marine Unit satellite station at Episkopi Bay, further strengthening its marine policing capability and enhancing public safety across the SBAs.
The new facility will operate as an additional base for Marine Unit officers, initially supporting policing activities in the Episkopi Bay area during the high season from June to September on weekends. It marks an important step in improving operational capability and ensuring a faster, more effective response to incidents within the Marine Unit’s area of responsibility.
The satellite station will enhance the Marine Unit’s presence, improve deployment efficiency and reduce response times to incidents at sea. Officers will carry out a full range of marine policing duties, including security patrols, emergency response, law enforcement and search and rescue operations when required.
The new facility expands the operational reach of the existing Marine Station at Akrotiri and will enable officers to deliver a faster and more effective policing service across a wider coastal area.
The station will be staffed by existing Marine Unit personnel from both divisions, who will continue to perform their full range of responsibilities while ensuring a coordinated and seamless service.
Marine Unit Instructor and Risk Assessor, Police Sergeant Perdiou Nicolas, said: “The opening of our new satellite station at Episkopi Bay is a significant step forward for the Marine Unit. This facility enhances our operational effectiveness, improves our visibility on the water and enables us to respond more quickly to incidents when every minute counts.
“Most importantly, it strengthens our ability to protect the public, support those enjoying our coastal areas and maintain safety and security across our maritime area of responsibility.
“The community can be reassured that the new station has been established with public safety at its core. By increasing the Marine Unit’s operational presence in the area, SBA Police will be better positioned to respond to incidents, support water users and provide an enhanced policing service throughout the region.”
Referring to irregular migration within the SBA territorial waters, Operations Chief Inspector, Ozgur Saadat, added:
“The establishment of the satellite Marine Station will contribute to the security patrols covering more areas and will further support ongoing efforts to deter, detect and respond to irregular migration within SBA territorial waters.”
The satellite station has been established as a permanent operational facility to support the Marine Unit’s long-term policing requirements. Its opening reinforces the SBA Police’s commitment to protecting the public, promoting maritime safety and ensuring that everyone using the waters within the SBAs can do so safely and securely.
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