**Prison Overcrowding Spills into Police Cells: A Growing Crisis in Cyprus**
The issue of overcrowding in Cyprus's prison system has reached a critical point, leading to significant pressure on police detention facilities. Reports indicate that the situation has become dire, with detainees facing unacceptable living conditions, including being forced to sleep on floors. This alarming trend raises serious concerns regarding hygiene, safety, and human rights.
At the Lakatamia police station, a facility originally designed to accommodate 40 detainees is currently housing 77 individuals, according to a report by Phileleftheros. This overcrowding has resulted in a drastic change to the daily routines of detainees. Those who would typically have access to an exercise yard twice a day are now confined to their cells for security reasons, a practice that contradicts recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
The overcrowding crisis is exacerbated by the transfer of convicted prisoners from the central prison to police cells, as the prison itself is unable to accommodate its population. This has led to a ripple effect, forcing police to relocate their own detainees to other police stations across the island in search of available space.
Nicos Loizides, head of the police branch of the Isotita trade union, highlighted the gravity of the situation. He stated that there are approximately 160 spaces available for detainees in police stations throughout Cyprus, with up to 80 percent of these occupied by convicted prisoners and individuals awaiting trial who would typically be held at the central prison. Loizides emphasized that the daily capacity of police detention facilities is operating at 130 percent, which he described as a dangerous situation that could lead to uprisings or accidents.
An entry in the logbook at Lakatamia police station recorded the facility’s occupancy at 77 detainees, indicating it was functioning at 110 percent of its capacity. The logbook noted that senior police officials were aware of the overcrowding issues and that concerns had been raised regarding hygiene, the safety of both staff and detainees, and human rights violations. Furthermore, the head of the detention facilities mentioned that fire safety and evacuation plans required urgent updates, yet recommendations for improvements had not been implemented, and regulations continued to be disregarded.
As the situation deteriorates, the police are also faced with the challenge of managing irregular migrants detained during routine operations. In some cases, these individuals are being transferred to migrant reception centers, even when they are suspected of criminal offenses. This adds another layer of complexity to the already strained detention system.
The Isotita trade union has proposed alternative solutions to address the overcrowding crisis, advocating for the establishment of additional detention facilities. The union argues that the current conditions pose a significant risk to the health and safety of detainees and staff alike.
The ongoing crisis in Cyprus's detention facilities underscores the urgent need for systemic reform within the prison and police systems. As overcrowding continues to escalate, the implications for human rights and the overall safety of both detainees and law enforcement personnel remain a pressing concern for authorities and advocates alike.