MPs demand modernisation of Cyprus Central Prison over overcrowding, drugs and phones

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Public Order visited Cyprus Central Prison in Nicosia and said the prison system urgently needs modernisation. The main problems MPs discussed with prison management were overcrowding, illegal mobile phones and drugs behind bars.

According to the MPs, the number of inmates convicted of drug-related offences is rising, as is the number convicted of sexual violence, including against minors. The organisation of criminal activity from inside the prison was also discussed.

The mobile phone jamming system, long awaited at the facility, is due to be activated by the end of November. More than 50% of inmates are foreign nationals, ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou reminded the committee. He called for an increase in prison staff, tighter security measures and changes to the legislation on the deportation of inmates.

“Prisons should offer a second chance and help rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates,” committee chair Fotini Tsiridou said. To tackle overcrowding, she proposed wider use of electronic monitoring and the expansion of therapeutic programmes. She said the current facilities do not meet modern requirements and that Cyprus needs a correctional facility of European standard in 2026. The committee will consider some sensitive issues in closed sessions and request from the relevant ministry draft legislation that has yet to be submitted to parliament.

AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides said he had seen no decisive steps to address the prison’s problems since 2019. “There should be one goal: zero grams of drugs and zero mobile phones in prison,” he stressed.