Filenews 6 March 2023 - by Fanis Makridis
At its limits is the penitentiary system, with the side effects being particularly noticeable in the police force, which is de facto under pressure, having to shoulder the duties of detention of dozens of convicts and inmates.
The problem with the overcrowding of the Central Prisons reached its peak, with the number of inmates being more than double the capacity of the institution's facilities. More than 1,000 people are currently being held in prison, i.e. persons sentenced to prison and indicted for serious offences, while the wings can accept a maximum of 480.
As we are informed, due to this situation, the temporary management of the penitentiary cannot accept other prisoners, with the result that police detention facilities that have been "baptized" as prisons on the basis of decrees of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, undertake the detention of convicts and inmates. The problem has become particularly acute in the last 15 days.
As we are informed, at least two people sentenced to imprisonment from Nicosia, one from Limassol and one from Paphos, had been transferred to the detention facilities of the Polis Chrysochous police station during the last two weeks. According to another "F" information source, six people who were given a prison sentence over a period of 10 days, began to serve their sentence at the Aradippou police station, instead of at the penitentiary. The aforementioned data also attribute the extent of the problem.
Moreover, the spokesperson of the Police, Christos Andreou, invited by "F" to comment on the issue, limited himself to referring to numerical data, which, however, are indicative. According to what he told us, the police detention facilities in all cities of Cyprus have a capacity of 181 people, in addition to the Detention Center for Informal Migrants (Menogeia). He added that as of last Friday (3/3) 36 persons who have either been convicted or are being tried in their cases are under the responsibility of the Police. Mr Andreou did not want to expand. The data he gave us, however, in connection with the fact that the Police manage daily a very large number of people for cases under investigation (see requests for detention, arrests, etc.), show that the situation has reached the point of no return.
On a daily basis, the Police have to deal with about 145 persons who are in custody. In order to better understand the problem, due to the occupancy of the places of detention, in case the police force conducts a large-scale operation and a large number of arrests arise, there will be no possibility of detaining those arrested. This may seem extreme, however, it is a matter of discussion among senior police officers. After all, it is enough just to add the number of convicted and convicted prisoners (36) with the prisoners managed daily by the Police (145) to understand the situation.
Another fact that leaves no doubt about the magnitude of the problem and what we record, is that Stefi Drakou, shortly before handing over the portfolio of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, took measures to alleviate the problem. As we are in a position to know in mid-February, on the basis of decrees he declared certain police stations in prisons. And this in an effort to find a way out.
Suffice it to note that according to data obtained at the beginning of last year, 10 detention facilities under the responsibility of the Police had been declared by ministerial decree as prisons. In total, at the beginning of 2022, the Police managed 22 detention facilities, including the facilities in Menogeia, where migrants are being deported (128 persons, 3 men's wings, 1 women's wing).
"It's a burning issue," the new minister told "F"
Anna Dotsi-Prokopiou, based on what she said, shows that she will give priority In her statements to "F", last Friday, the new Minister of Justice, Anna Dotsi-Prokopiou, said that although she has taken over the portfolio a few days ago, she nevertheless assured that the issue is a priority for her.
"It's a burning issue," he said in our brief conversation, adding that he is well aware that ways will have to be found to find a "solution immediately." However, it is doubtful whether a way out can be found easily and immediately. The Central Prisons are housed in old facilities (buildings of 1894). In other words, construction work to expand the Prisons cannot be easily done. At the same time, there is no other temporary solution on the horizon. After evaluating data, it seems that the only way to discharge is through releases, or the acquittal of inmates.
The prospect of being pardoned to prisoners by the new President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will alleviate the problem, but it is not a permanent cure. Even if this is decided by the first citizen, much will depend on how much is pardoned. It should be noted, however, that many prisoners in prisons have been convicted of sexual offenses. It is one of the reasons that contributed to the phenomenon of overcrowding. And as is well known from the presidential pardon, those convicted of murder or attempted murder and sexual offenses are exempt from the reduction of the sentence.
The only prospect on the horizon is the construction of new facilities, which will be time-consuming. However, people who have a good knowledge of the subject, attribute the fact that the problem is managed for the time being, even marginally, to the good cooperation between senior officers of the Corps and the deputy director of the Prisons, Ioannis Kapnoullas, coming from the ranks of the Police. "There is constant communication and good cooperation", a person who has an image of the situation from his position told us. Here it should be noted that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane, Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), has announced that in 2023 it will make periodic visits to eight countries, including Cyprus. Around the beginning of last November, a CPT team had come to our island examining the conditions of detention of migrants in Menogeia. It had also put under its microscope the procedures for transporting persons to Larnaka airport and the handling of the Cyprus Police in relation to their refoulement by flight.
INTERVENTION
Tested...
The issue of the Central Prisons is the first "hot potato" that the new Minister of Justice, Anna Dotsi-Prokopiou, will have to manage. The penitentiary is not only afflicted by overcrowding of prisoners. The issue of the new address should be clarified, following the known facts, and the issue with the mobile phone deactivation system is also pending. The latter is also directly linked to public safety, as detainees allegedly planned criminal activities from their cells using portable telephone devices. The task of the new Minister, then, is not an easy one. But regardless of the degree of difficulty, citizens expect solutions. This is also required to safeguard public safety.
