The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) is once again spotlighting Cyprus, with a new report raising concerns over the overcrowding in its Central Prisons and highlighting serious deficiencies in detention conditions.The latest report from the Committee, addressing detention facilities in general – including Prisons, police holding cells, and Mental Health Services – was recently released with observations and remarks pointing out serious shortcomings across all sectors. State authorities are currently preparing their responses to the raised issues, which are expected to be submitted by March 18. Subsequently, the Committee will publish its final report.According to sources from Phileleftheros, the CPT’s observations on the Central Prisons highlight a series of deficiencies that have been consistently recorded over time, mostly stemming from the issue of overcrowding. Similar observations have been made regarding police holding cells, inspected by a Committee delegation that visited Cyprus last year, as well as the chambers of the Mental Health Services in Athalassa.While CPT recommendations are not legally binding, when used through other mechanisms, the state is ultimately obligated to implement them. According to information secured by Phileleftheros, the Committee’s observations include:Overcrowding in correctional facilities is an issue recurrently flagged in the Committee’s reports over the past fifteen years. The Committee, recognising this as a serious problem, urges Cyprus to find ways to alleviate overcrowding.Understaffing due to overcrowding, as noted by the Committee. With prison populations exceeding a thousand inmates, personnel levels cannot remain nearly the same as when the population was half its current size.Detention conditions for prisoners are also influenced by overcrowding. Cells meant for one detainee now accommodate two, and cells designed for two houses three or four. During its last visit to prisons last year, the Committee observed inmates crammed into wings with limited capacity.The Committee identified specific wings where convicts are stacked, resulting in inadequate detention conditions.Prison health services The CPT expressed concerns that with the current prison population, there is insufficient medical personnel to provide comprehensive healthcare. Due to a lack of nurses, staff members are forced to assume nursing duties, including administering medications to prisoners.Strengthening medical services by adding another psychologist. A psychiatrist was already detached from the prisons two months ago following numerous efforts, but due to the increased number of inmates, the Committee suggests the presence of another specialist to address cases requiring assistance.Increasing efforts to assess incoming prisoners to address suicide and attempted suicide incidents in prisons. While acknowledging the actions and protocols applied when someone is convicted and enters prison for the first time, there is now a process of evaluation and profiling before placement in a wing.Philipides: Action Plan PreparedRegarding the Committee’s observations, Phileleftheros contacted Deputy Director of Central Prisons, Haris Philipides, who said that the prison views the Committee’s recommendations as a positive tool for improving the existing situation. “We acknowledge the overcrowding problem, and in collaboration and consultation with the Ministry of Justice, measures are being promoted to alleviate it and improve living conditions for prisoners and provide a better environment for staff working under challenging circumstances,” he said.Philipides further clarified that an action plan has been developed for each of the Committee’s recommendations with specific timelines to monitor implementation. Instructions have already been given for the preparation of an implementation plan for the CPT’s recommendations. The director concluded by stating that both observations and criticisms, when constructive, are welcomed, “as this is how we improve.”Read more:
overcrowding. overcrowding, detention conditions, Central Prisons