There had been 18 instances of attacks on delivery drivers since the start of the year said Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis. Fifteen of these had taken place in Limassol – the latest in the early hours of Tuesday – and three in Nicosia. In fact, there had been another attack in Limassol the previous week and two more the week before that. The situation is threatening to veer out of control.
Hartsiotis did the right thing in calling a meeting at the ministry on Wednesday with the chief of police and the labour minister in order to decide an action plan. The authorities need to show that there would be zero tolerance for such actions, which Hartsiotis were “serious and worrying” and “contained the element of racism.” Everyone at the meeting, he said, “stressed their determination and will to restrict and eliminate these unfortunate phenomena, appearing recently.”
The police had, so far, dealt with eight of the 15 cases, 16 arrest warrants had been issued and criminal charges have already been brought against several individuals. Wednesday’s meeting also decided the measures that would be taken, although the minister said everyone had decided not to make these public as it could potentially undermine their effectiveness. It was understandable that the police chief would not want the operation plan disclosed.
Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou, commendably, took a very clear stand on the matter, saying “all working people are entitled to feel safe doing their job” and their protection was an unchanging priority of the state and social partners. More importantly, he singled out the shamefulness of assaulting the most vulnerable members of our society.
“This kind of behaviours, which victimise the vulnerable and weak workers are not appropriate and have no place in our country, especially when there is also a racist dimension linked to these cases,” said Panayiotou after the meeting. “No racist attack on any worker could be excused or be tolerated,” he added. There was no mincing of his words, making it very clear that the authorities will come down hard on this racist violence, before it spreads, which is always a danger if it is not nipped in the bud.
The police clampdown is necessary, but it is also important for the courts not to show any clemency to those found guilty of assaulting and robbing delivery drivers. The courts must also take a tough line if this despicable behaviour is to be stopped – suspended sentences would send out the wrong messages. The thugs cannot be allowed to walk out of court with a reprimand or a fine, even if they are young, first-time offenders. Attacking and robbing vulnerable and weak workers, earning a living by riding a moped late into the night, appalling behaviour for which there must be exemplary punishment.
It is good that the authorities have taken the spate of attacks very seriously, taking measures to protect the delivery men and sending the message that this behaviour will not be tolerated. The clear messaging could be enough to deter the thugs from staging more attacks, but the police, quite rightly, are not relying on this.
