Crime in Cyprus

View of the Central prison of Nicosia.

Crime in Cyprus is governed by the legal framework of the Cypriot Penal Code and other relevant legislation. The crime landscape in Cyprus includes various types of offenses, with particular emphasis on financial crime, drug-related offenses, and human trafficking.

In 2024, according to Global Finance Magazine, Cyprus ranks 13th in their "Safest Countries in the World" list, highlighting its overall low levels of crime, including violent crime, making it one of the safer nations globally​.

Legal proceedings

Main article: Judiciary of Cyprus

The legal proceedings in Cyprus are primarily governed by the Cypriot Penal Code and other legislative instruments. When a crime is reported, the police conduct a preliminary investigation to gather evidence and determine the nature of the offense. Prosecutors, who are part of an independent judiciary, decide whether to bring charges based on the evidence collected. Suspects have the right to legal representation and can request further investigations if necessary.

Confidence in the criminal justice system

In 2023, the Cyprus criminal justice system ranks 23rd globally out of 140 jurisdictions, as evaluated by the World Justice Project.

Crime statistics

According to recent data, Cyprus experiences relatively low levels of violent crime, with property crimes such as burglary and theft being more common.

Financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering, are significant concerns in Cyprus due to its role as a financial hub. The country has faced scrutiny for its involvement in various financial malpractices. In 2023, Cyprus has been implicated in a major money laundering investigation involving BNP Paribas and a Cypriot brokerage firm, with suspicious financial flows amounting to over €220 million between 2019 and 2021​.

The Council of Europe's Moneyval report highlights that while Cyprus has made progress in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, several challenges remain. The country has improved its compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, but further efforts are needed to fully implement measures, particularly in the non-profit and virtual asset service provider sectors.

In 2022, there were notable efforts to combat human trafficking, resulting in several arrests and convictions. The overall crime rate in Cyprus has been stable, with some fluctuations in specific crime categories.

Crime trends

In 2023, the crime rate per capita in Cyprus rose for the second consecutive year, with the "crime index" reaching 584 serious offenses per 100,000 residents.

Incarceration rate

The incarceration rate in Cyprus is 103 per 100,000 population.

Council of Europe's recommendations

In 2023, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) recommended that the Cypriot authorities ensure that foreign nationals are able to progress through their sentences similarly to Cypriot prisoners. This includes the ability to transfer to open prisons and be considered for early release, adhering to the principle of non-discrimination in line with international standards. The CPT advised the Cypriot authorities to enhance support for foreign nationals in the Central Jail of Nicosia by appointing a dedicated foreign national liaison officer, providing written information on prisoner rights, obligations, and house rules upon admission in the most commonly spoken languages and in accessible formats, including systematic information on immigration procedures and ensuring access to interpretation services for foreign national prisoners when needed. This recommendation followed the finding that the Nicosia prison population contained 53.4% foreign inmates, including around 13% who had been arrested for holding false papers.