Police recorded 24 attacks on food delivery workers and made 14 arrests between the beginning of 2026 and 30 June. The tally is already higher than the 23 cases recorded throughout 2025 and excludes incidents in July and a recent attack in Paphos in which five people were injured.
Trade unions say the increase cannot be viewed solely as a robbery problem and are seeking stronger protections for delivery workers through the renewal of the sector’s collective agreement.
Police point to financial motives
Cyprus Police spokesperson Vyronas Vyronos told CNA that the 23 attacks recorded in 2025 resulted in 18 arrests.
“These are serious incidents. From the information available to us and the investigations we have conducted, it appears that the motive is financial, meaning that the intention is to steal money,” Vyronos said.
He added that police have so far found no evidence of another motive. Some cases involved alleged attackers of the same nationality as the delivery workers and were linked to personal or financial disputes, although he could not provide a precise number.
Limassol accounted for 13 of this year’s 24 cases, followed by Nicosia with six, Paphos with four and Larnaca with one.
Police issue safety advice
Police are holding meetings at district level and have prepared an English-language leaflet containing safety advice for delivery workers. The leaflet was recently published on the force’s social media accounts and will also be distributed directly to workers through their employers.
Delivery workers are advised to:
- Confirm the delivery address before arriving and verify any unusual instructions by telephone.
- Complete deliveries in well-lit locations where possible.
- Remain alert to suspicious behaviour, particularly if they are being watched, followed or approached by groups.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and favour cashless payments where possible.
- Keep their mobile phone ready for use.
- Avoid deliveries in isolated locations.
- Protect their vehicle and personal belongings.
- Report threats or attacks immediately.
Police also advise workers who feel at risk not to confront or resist an attacker. They should move to a safe public place and contact police immediately on 112.
Police operations target high-risk locations
Vyronos said police are maintaining a presence at locations identified as possible hotspots while also conducting operations that are not visible to the public.
The aim, he said, is to identify potential perpetrators at an early stage. He also appealed to public authorities, social organisations and members of the public to provide police with any relevant information.
Unions link safety to collective agreement
SEK and PEO are expected to raise specific safety demands during negotiations over the renewal of the sector’s collective agreement.
Neofytos Timinis, general secretary of SYXKA-PEO, said there was a clear upward trend and argued that the incidents were neither isolated nor motivated solely by robbery.
“They are part of the increase in xenophobia within our society. Robbery is a pretext,” he said.
PEO is seeking greater transparency over the algorithms used in the delivery sector so that unions can identify potential problems and raise them during negotiations.
The union also wants workers to be compensated for equipment damaged during an attack or workplace accident, including vehicles, mobile phones and personal protective equipment.
Charalambos Avgousti, general secretary of OMEPEGE-SEK, said a meeting with the Department of Labour Relations is expected during the first ten days of September, marking the start of negotiations on the renewed agreement.
Worker safety will be among the union’s demands. Avgousti said several proposals previously submitted by the union had not been implemented.
One proposal, raised during meetings with the Ministries of Transport and Labour and their relevant departments, involved introducing an emergency alert system for workers facing danger. According to Avgousti, the system has yet to be implemented.
Source: CNA
