In another sign of Cyprus accelerating technical compliance for Schengen accession, the national police service on 6 December confirmed that patrol officers across the island have been equipped with rugged tablets linked to the force’s central information system and, crucially, to Interpol and the Schengen Information System (SIS).
According to an internal memo obtained by daily newspaper Phileleftheros, the CY Patrol Check web application on each device allows field officers to run instant ID and vehicle checks against Interpol ‘stop’ lists and the SIS database for stolen cars, documents and wanted persons. Until now, such queries required radioing station-based operators, creating delays at roadside stops and, more importantly, at the Green Line crossing points and the Republic’s two international airports.
![Schengen push: Cyprus police roll out mobile tablets with direct access to EU security databases]()
Training for the Mobile Policing project began in July at the Police Academy, with a deadline of mid-December for all districts to complete roll-outs. Supervisors must file fortnightly reports on the number of database checks performed, and the new capability will be audited by EU evaluators ahead of the next Schengen readiness mission in spring 2026.
For business travellers and expatriate workers, the upgrade should mean swifter border-control procedures and fewer queues at ad-hoc checkpoints once Cyprus joins SIS2 in full. Companies should, however, remind mobile staff that on-the-spot document checks may increase while officers familiarise themselves with the technology.
The investment complements recent procurements of Oracle licences for passport-control systems and network-security hardware at Larnaca and Paphos airports, underscoring Cyprus’ intent to clear the technical chapters of the Schengen acquis by the end of 2026.
According to an internal memo obtained by daily newspaper Phileleftheros, the CY Patrol Check web application on each device allows field officers to run instant ID and vehicle checks against Interpol ‘stop’ lists and the SIS database for stolen cars, documents and wanted persons. Until now, such queries required radioing station-based operators, creating delays at roadside stops and, more importantly, at the Green Line crossing points and the Republic’s two international airports.
Training for the Mobile Policing project began in July at the Police Academy, with a deadline of mid-December for all districts to complete roll-outs. Supervisors must file fortnightly reports on the number of database checks performed, and the new capability will be audited by EU evaluators ahead of the next Schengen readiness mission in spring 2026.
For business travellers and expatriate workers, the upgrade should mean swifter border-control procedures and fewer queues at ad-hoc checkpoints once Cyprus joins SIS2 in full. Companies should, however, remind mobile staff that on-the-spot document checks may increase while officers familiarise themselves with the technology.
The investment complements recent procurements of Oracle licences for passport-control systems and network-security hardware at Larnaca and Paphos airports, underscoring Cyprus’ intent to clear the technical chapters of the Schengen acquis by the end of 2026.
