Dartford MP wants parliament debate on Cyprus tourist safety
13:34, 13 January 2020
updated: 14:06, 13 January 2020
An MP has raised concerns about the safety of British tourists visiting Cyprus.
Dartford representative Gareth Johnson has asked for a House of Commons debate on the subject.
The Tory was speaking after a Derbyshire woman was found guilty of making up claims she was raped.
The teenager flew home last week, saying she was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
Mr Johnson said the case is the latest in a line of worrying incidents on the Mediterranean island.
He has long campaigned for justice for constituent George Low who was stabbed to death in 2016.
Although suspects have been identified, nobody has stood trial for the 22-year-old's killing.
The MP has asked the leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, for a debate.
He said: “The recent treatment of the 19-year-old British national in Ayia Napa and the failures of the judicial process there, follows on from the failure to bring to justice the killers of my constituent, who was murdered in the same town."
The former solicitor wants the debate to focus on whether additional safety advice needs to be given to tourists.
He added: “The way the young woman has been treated during the investigation and judicial process, compound the already significant concerns I have about the judicial process in Cyprus and the way in which investigations and court proceedings are conducted."
Speaking about Mr Low, he said: "The suspects remain at large and despite information about their whereabouts being passed to authorities, his family are no closer to securing justice for their son.
"Additionally, his family still await the outcome of the inquest into their son’s death, despite the hearing taking place in 2018.
"Cyprus must do more to restore confidence that tourists are safe and will be fairly treated if something goes wrong.”
A debate is yet to be tabled by House of Commons officials
