Cypriot authorities have made a strategic decision to build a new prison outside the capital. Minister of Justice Kostas Fytiris confirmed that a site for the new correctional complex has already been identified, and plans to expand the existing blocks in Nicosia have been officially suspended. According to him, upgrading the facility within the city limits proved economically and technically impractical due to limited space and the chronic overcrowding of the institution.
The new prison will be designed to meet 21st-century requirements, including modern standards of security, inmate accommodation, and staff working conditions. Design work, tender procedures, and the start of construction are expected to begin in the near future.
Staffing and structural changes in the Central Prisons
In parallel with plans for the new facility, the government is launching important reforms. Within the next month, recruitment will be announced for 90 new prison service employees, with mandatory preliminary training. The reopening and modernization of the Prison Guard School is also planned, which should improve staff professional training and reduce turnover.
The Ministry of Justice intends to soon begin the process of appointing a director of the correctional facility, as well as implementing a system of regular staff rotation. These steps are aimed at increasing transparency, improving management efficiency, and reducing professional burnout among staff.
Security, healthcare, and reducing overcrowding
An independent electronic CCTV system is planned for installation at the Central Prison in Nicosia, which will strengthen oversight and enhance security. Special attention will also be given to medical care and to expanding psychosocial support for both inmates and staff.
At the same time, the authorities are working to reduce overcrowding in the system. In cooperation with the legal service, measures are being considered to reduce the number of inmates convicted of minor offenses, in line with European practice and recommendations from human rights organizations.
Reintegration as a priority of state policy
Fytiris emphasized that a modern penitentiary system should focus not only on isolation, but also on the successful reintegration of people into society after serving their sentences. According to him, this indicator reflects the real effectiveness of criminal enforcement policy. The minister also confirmed that he will continue regular visits to the Central Prisons to personally monitor the progress of reforms and detention conditions.