More than five years after legislation was passed requiring a separate detention facility for juveniles, the issue remains unresolved despite repeated concerns raised by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe.
The Ministry of Justice had originally decided that the facility in Menogia would be transformed into a modern detention centre for minors, incorporating improvements and recommendations made by the CPT.
However, Justice Minister Costas Fytiris told the House Finance Committee during discussions on the ministry's budget that the plan has changed and juvenile detention facilities will instead be established next to the existing Central Prison.
According to Fytiris, "the juvenile detention facility has been pending since 2021 and we are compelled to proceed with a solution involving modular structures to allow flexibility for relocation. The modular option was chosen to save time and costs."
He said initial estimates suggested the facility would be ready by June 2027, but he personally expected the work to be completed by October 2027.
The minister noted that the number of juvenile detainees typically ranges between 10 and 30 and stressed that, despite being modular structures, the facilities would not be inferior to permanent buildings.
Parliament has repeatedly granted extensions to delay implementation of the legislation requiring minors to be held separately from adult inmates at the Central Prison. The question now is whether MPs will agree to grant another extension, given that they previously indicated last year's extension would be the final one.
Menogia to become central police detention centre
Regarding the existing facilities at Menogia, the justice minister said work is already under way to convert the site into a central police detention centre.
The facility will be used to hold remand prisoners awaiting trial.
Fytiris said police station detention facilities are currently operating at around 180% capacity because of overcrowding within the prison system.
Menogia has capacity for 160 detainees and, once operational, is expected to significantly ease pressure on police resources.
He cited the example of an arrest in the Ayia Napa area, explaining that suspects are often transferred to detention facilities in other districts before being taken to court.
The minister said the central detention centre at Menogia is expected to become operational by the end of this year.
Mobile phones remain a major challenge
Much of the discussion between MPs and the justice minister focused on conditions at the current Central Prison and plans for the construction of a new correctional facility.
According to Fytiris, the new prison will be built outside an urban area and the 2027 budget includes €1 million for the necessary studies.
He said the Agios Sozomenos area appears to meet all the required criteria and added that local communities will be consulted once the master plan is completed.
The new prison complex will have capacity for 1,500 inmates.
As for the existing prison facilities, overcrowding remains the most significant challenge.
On the issue of mobile phones, the minister said the key question is how the devices continue to enter the prison.
"Unfortunately, the existing control systems cannot easily detect mobile phones. What is needed is scanning equipment at every entrance so that every person entering the correctional facility can be checked," he said.
A mobile phone detection system is already in operation, while a phone-blocking system is being installed gradually across prison wings.
Installation of the phone-jamming system throughout the entire Central Prison is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2027.
