Filenews 6 January 2026 - by Michalis Chatzivasilis
Actions are being taken so that the mobile phone deactivation system in the Central Prisons can proceed to the second phase, despite information to the contrary, by the Department of Electromechanical Services, which is also the contractor of the project.
According to information from "F", the first phase of the installation of the system has been completed at 90% and some issues remain to be settled so that it can be completed in the next few days. According to our own information, the system is working successfully, it did not present any problems, except for the slight damage that had been caused by a prisoner to one of the sensors in a wing, damage that has already been repaired.
According to our own information, the prisons are completely satisfied with the operation of the system so far, which at this stage only concerns the detection of mobile phones and other devices through the use of the internet. As it was duly explained to us, the first phase concerns the detection of mobile phones, so that a signal can be sent and then they can be located and confiscated. The results are quite satisfactory and that is why the competent minister Alexis Vafeadis has been informed.
In fact, recently, a mobile phone was found from which a video was taken showing prisoners sleeping on the floor. Although the video was destroyed, the mobile phone was located and it was found that the video was not genuine. Prisons have decided not to make public when mobile phones are detected so that they can act immediately and effectively.
In the meantime, the Department of Electromechanical Services is currently studying and evaluating the financial terms of the offer for the second phase of the system, which is the most critical, which will achieve the deactivation of mobile phones. Today the system detects a mobile phone in the base of sensors that have been placed in wings and open spaces. It does not emit radiation and therefore, according to experts, the neighbouring areas are not affected, as it has been written.
The new phase will concern the blocking of the signal, so that if an attempt is made to use a mobile phone, the system will not allow it. As it was explained to us, the systems have been pre-selected and now the evaluation of the financial offer is being carried out to see if it is within the framework set by the contractor. And for the second phase – if it goes ahead – it will be piloted as was done with the first phase for the detection of mobile phones.
The contractor does not wish to have the same outcome as the previous system, which never worked, the contract was terminated and the issue remains open with claims from both sides. For the system that was abandoned, the Audit Office had prepared a report where it blasted the services involved which gave many extensions to the completion of the project, which was finally judged to be out of terms of the offer, since it affected the telephones of the area.
