Filenews 8 June 2024 - by Michalis Hadjivassilis
He did not mince words either about the serious problem of mobile phones in prisons or drugs.
The deputy director, Haris Filippidis, in his first interview talks to "F" about mobile phones in the hands of prisoners, which can be turned into dangerous weapons, as serious crimes can be organized and executed. On drugs, the numbers speak. As he says, 50% of those who enter are positive for substance use. Every day there are unannounced checks, from which no one escapes, not even himself.
One of the issues plaguing Cypriot prisons is the use of mobile phones by convicts. What actions are you taking to combat the phenomenon until a new mobile deactivation system arrives?
– It is good to note that organized crime within prisons and all that you rightly mentioned, is a global phenomenon, which over time concerns and afflicts most penitentiary institutions worldwide, if not all. What you say is very important, but even more important is our reaction.
The public safety and well-being of our staff and those in our care, as I have said many times, is at the heart of our mission. Personally for me, using a mobile phone in prisons is one of the worst crimes that can be committed. In the hands of certain convicts, the mobile phone can turn into a very dangerous weapon, since through it, even human lives are at risk. Serious crimes can be organized and executed, inside and outside prisons. The use of mobile phones poses a direct risk to the safety of both prisoners and prison guards themselves.
I can say that the procedures for obtaining the new mobile phone deactivation system are well underway. The acquisition and operation of a modern system is a decision taken by the government. In this regard, with the active participation of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Ministry of Transport and the Deputy Ministry of Innovation, we expect to have the new deactivation system in about a year and a half.
-However, until the new system comes, as an address, what actions do you take to prevent mobile phones from reaching prisoners?
– Until this happens, as Prisons we do not stand idly by. There is no complacency. We have recently reviewed and strengthened the measures we are taking. Our goal is to minimize the problem and, where possible, eliminate it completely.
In this context, we have increased the checks of all incoming persons within the Prison facilities, as well as on a daily basis we carry out unannounced checks inside the cells, but also in common areas. For obvious reasons I do not want to go into more detail on all the measures we are taking, but I think that as a result, they are working to a large extent. Our efforts in this area are continuous and intensive.
Let me also add that the checks include both prisoners and staff. And for Caesar's wife to be and appear honest, I too am checked, like everyone else who enters the Prisons.
– Another issue that often concerns prisons is drugs. How will they be stopped from being admitted to prisoners?
First, the introduction and use of drugs in prisons around the world, even in prisons regarded as safety standards, is a widespread problem. Our country and our own prisons could not be the exception. We should mention that in the urine sample test carried out on new prisoners, more than 50% give a positive result to the use of illegal drugs. In conclusion, at least half of the population living in the Department of Prisons has a history of use before imprisonment.
The use of such substances results in an increase in incidents of violence among prisoners, poses a direct risk to the physical safety of prison guards, but also to the physical and mental health of the prisoners themselves. It also greatly undermines the earnest efforts of our staff to reform convicts. It is a scourge that afflicts our society and the entire structure of our penitentiary to its foundations. We must not lose sight of the fact that most of the world's prison population is charged with offences relating either purely to the possession and trafficking of drugs or to offences related to substance abuse. As it turns out, drug use afflicts a large part of society in general and prisons, as a miniature version of society, could not be different.
We invest in rehabilitation
Despite the measures taken, Mr. Filippidis, however, drugs continue to be detected. What other actions do you take to even limit the phenomenon?
-The further upgrade of our operational capabilities is part of the pillars we have set as a priority. In this direction, the establishment of the Special Unit for Dogs (K-9) in our prisons is also moving. Its development, but mainly its utilization, has shown in practice that it is an effective strategy to reduce the problem of drug import and trafficking within prisons. The increased sense of smell that these specially trained dogs have, under the instructions of their experienced handlers, automatically turns them into valuable weapons.
You realize that confinement alone is not able to stop the dependence of these people. After all, if that were the solution, then the problem of dependency around the world would have been solved long ago, simply by locking up users. Detoxification is a much deeper and more complex process and we invest significantly in it. In this context, we recently renewed our Cooperation Protocol with the Cyprus Addictions Authority, while we have already jointly set up a Working Group, which will propose new structures and new rehabilitation programs in our penitentiary. In addition, the existing cooperation we have with the closed Therapeutic Community of Addiction "Agia Skepi" continues to be maintained at very high levels and with admittedly very good results.
We believe that if we manage to reduce demand, supply will naturally decrease.
At the same time, I should stress that strict control measures are taken for all those who enter the Prisons, whether they are prisoners, visitors, even working staff. These measures have been reviewed and strengthened in recent times in an effort to control the situation and prevent the introduction of illegal substances into our facilities with significant results, both in relation to detainees and staff.
