FYTIRIS - WE WILL COME BACK WITH THE SURVEILLANCE OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS - INFORMATION ABOUT A NEW FLOW OF MIGRANTS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES - NEW POLICE OFFICERS IN THE MODEL OF SYOP - Filenews 26/10 by Michalis Chatzivasilis
The Ministry of Justice returns to the issue of interception of telephone conversations since it is a priority, as it stated today before the parliamentary Committee on Finance "because without surveillance we are one step behind".
Konstantinos Fytiris, who presented the budget of his ministry, stressed that the issue will return to Parliament since it is his priority. He did not say, however, whether there will be changes to the bill or whether it will come as originally prepared. He referred to Greece where it has successes against organized crime, because it has the weapon of surveillance. On the same issue, the Chief of Police stated that "we are very concerned, the problem with drugs is frightening and we are working with foreign services to combat it".
The Minister of Justice also revealed that there are thoughts about hiring new police officers as the model of SYOP works in the National Guard, so that they do not cost much and are easier to hire. Right now, he said, we have police officers who deal with morgues, serving calls and other tasks that are not police.
Mr. Fytiris also referred to information that the security authorities have about the arrival in the coming of migration flows from African countries. Measures are being taken to identify and stop the issue.
Referring to the much-discussed problem of the new prisons, he said that the completion of the master plan is expected which will be presented to the affected residents so that we can see where they agree and where they disagree. The minister also said that next Monday the new director of the prisons will take over, which are now entering a new era and noted that due to a lack of staff, the field has been opened to Europeans. The system is in progress to cut off the signal on mobile phones.
According to the plans of the Ministry of Justice, reforms are being promoted in three main axes:
1. Legislative framework
2. Upgrading the level of security through the use of technological systems and improving building infrastructure to deal with overcrowding
3. Recruitment and upgrading of staff training.
For the modernization of the Legislative Framework, the following are promoted:
- Prison News Legislation and Corresponding Regulations
- Introduction of the institution of Electronic Surveillance of Undertrials by legislative regulation.
In order to upgrade the level of security with the use of technology, the following have been promoted:
- Anti-drone system (completed)
- Mobile Phone Tracking System (Completed)
- New Unified Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System to be completed November 2026
- New mobile deactivation system.
Regarding the detention centers for the juvenile convicts, Mr. Fytiris stated that they would initially take place in Mennogia. Eventually, Mennogeia will become the central detention center of the Police and the minors will be transferred to modern prefabricated houses next to the Central Prison so that they can move in the future. It is expected that in October 2027 they will be ready.
Answering questions from MPs, the Minister of Justice said that for Maccabi we have accepted the request and we will issue an invoice for the policing of its games. However, the first match has not taken place, it will probably be the second.
Regarding the plasmapheresis case, Deputy Chief of Police Panikos Stavrou stated that an investigation is being carried out, it is advanced, legal issues have been ascertained and we are in consultation with the Legal Service to bring an amendment to the legislation from the Ministry of Health.
On the much-discussed issue of the construction of new Courts in Nicosia, the Minister of Justice said that within 2027 the planning for the new Courts will be announced.
On behalf of AKEL, Larnaca MP Andreas Pasiourtidis strongly criticized the juvenile detention facility which has been passed for six years and has not yet been built and for the fact that justice is dying, since people are not encouraged to appeal because the trial of cases is delayed.
