Cyprus’s justice minister is focusing on three potential locations for a new central prison as the government moves to address chronic overcrowding problems that have damaged the country’s reputation within the European Union.
Justice Minister Constantinos Fytiris began searching for sites after President Nikos Christodoulides gave the green light to proceed with plans for new prison facilities, whilst also initiating procedures for design and operational planning.
Three candidate locations are currently under consideration, all involving state land that would not require expropriations, which would increase costs. The priority location sits between Nicosia and Larnaca.
Fytiris wants the new prison in a central location to reduce prisoner transport distances, cutting costs and reducing hours that police or prison guards spend on transfers.
The first-choice location is far from communities, though some neighbouring villages are expected to benefit as visitors purchase services or goods locally.
The minister’s main goal is to build an entirely new prison meeting all international human rights standards at minimum cost. The facility’s capacity has not been finalised but is estimated at near 1,000 people to cover all needs.
When the new prison is built—no timeline has been set—existing prisons will close and either become museum spaces or serve other purposes.
Part of the pre-departure centre in Limnes is expected to be ready by February for deportees currently held there, allowing conversion works to begin for juvenile detention.
Beyond hiring 90 new prison guards—76 positions were already advertised previously—Fytiris announced two measures that appear set to tackle the root of the staff sick leave problem.
One officer has not been to the prison for two years due to sick leave, according to the ministry. Under the new decisions, those absent on sick leave for extended periods will pass through a medical board again, whilst guards will be scored based on working hours for promotion purposes.
Fytiris told Phileleftheros that scoring will match work duties, saying it makes no sense for someone absent from work for 90 or more days to be treated the same as someone working continuously.
The minister’s announcements appear to be gaining ground with unions. After a recent war of statements between the two staff unions, they have now decided to hold a joint vasilopita cutting ceremony that the minister will attend.
The PASYDY Prison Personnel Branch yesterday called the justice minister’s announcements about building new prisons outside urban areas and strengthening the Prison Department with new guard hirings a “crucial first step in the right direction”.
The branch said these measures respond to long-standing, documented staff demands whilst recognising the minister’s stated political will to push substantial changes to the correctional system.
However, PASYDY warned that the current prison situation allows no more delays, noting that chronic severe understaffing, increased risks to staff and prisoner safety, and exhausting work conditions have pushed the system “to the limits of its endurance. The staff has carried for years the burden of a system operating at the edge,” the union said, calling for immediate translation of announcements into actions.
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