The Justice Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that the current prison facilities in Cyprus will receive a series of improvement projects, following long-standing concerns raised by prison staff.
The announcement came after a meeting today between Justice Minister Kostas Fytiris, prison authorities, and officials from the Public Works and Electromechanical Services.
The minister said plans to expand the existing prisons have been cancelled, as land has been secured for a new correctional facility. Until the new facility is built, targeted upgrades will be implemented to improve security, operations, and living conditions for inmates.
Planned works include renovating prison medical centres, creating a dedicated staff entrance, building a new laundry and clothing storage facility, adding a medical office in the open prisons, and introducing measures to prevent mobile phone use among inmates.
The ministry also confirmed the procurement of an electronic monitoring system. The equipment has been ordered, with delivery expected soon. The system will support conditional release programmes while ensuring public safety.
Clear timelines were set for all projects, with completion expected within three to six months. Minister Fytiris instructed continuous monitoring of progress to ensure the work meets agreed standards. He emphasised close cooperation with all relevant services to achieve timely, measurable results.
The announcement follows concerns from the prison officers’ branch of PASYDY, which has repeatedly highlighted that current facilities are inadequate. The union said poor infrastructure affects both inmates and staff, making daily operations and security challenging. PASYDY welcomed the minister’s recognition of long-term issues and said it is ready to support initiatives that improve training, safety, and prison management.
PASYDY also stressed that professional education for officers is essential for security and humane treatment. The union noted that a Prison Officers’ School, established in 2008 alongside 20 new staff positions, later closed, reducing training opportunities and career advancement. The union said it will not accept any rollback in safety or staff rights but acknowledged the positive atmosphere in recent parliamentary discussions.
The union called for concrete improvements rather than statements alone, highlighting the need for practical steps to enhance living conditions, staff safety, and the overall operation of the prison system.