Country

Cyprus

Detention issue

Cell space

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Prison Regulations (Οι περί Φυλακών (Γενικοί) Κανονισμοί του 1997)The size of individual prison cells must be no less than 7 m2, the size of communal wards must be of such size so that at least 4 m2 accrue to each detainee.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2019The Commissioner concluded that the infrastructure of the Police Detention Centre of Pera Chorio Nisou, operating as a prison, had severe deficiencies and, for this reason, the place could not be deemed as compatible with the basic principles governing the treatment of detainees and the international standards for places of detention. More specifically, the Commissioner noted that the deficiencies in terms of natural ventilation and natural light of the detention area and, consequently, the lack of proper conditions of hygiene, as well as the lack of substantive occupation and entertainment of the detainees, rendered the place unsuitable for the detention of detainees serving life sentence or months/years of imprisonment. Report details
2019Aradipou Police Detention: More specifically, the deficiencies in terms of natural light and basic conditions of hygiene render the place incompatible with the basic principles for the treatment of detainees and the international standards for places where people are deprived of their liberty. Therefore, the Commissioner made the following recommendations on the improvement of treatment and living conditions of detainees: Taking measures to ensure natural ventilation of the detention area, modifying in particular the windows in each cell. Report details
2019Koninou Police detention: Furthermore, according to information provided to the Officer by the police officers on duty at the time of the visits, the cleaning of cells is carried out by the detainees themselves, a practice contrary to opinion of the Commissioner, as maintaining the cleanliness of the areas of hygiene within detention centres should be the responsibility of the competent authority and not of the detainees who are solely responsible for their own personal hygiene… Concluding, the Commissioner made the following recommendations on the improvement of treatment and living conditions of detainees: Ending the practice of cleaning the areas of hygiene by detainees and finding alternative ways to ensure their proper hygiene. Report details
2019Lakatamia Police Detention: The visit revealed that the main detention area consists of individual cells with a bed with sheets, a small desk, a toilet, a basin and a shower of vandal resistance. The sanitary area within each cell is separated by a low internal wall which obstructs visibility from the staff and ensures the privacy of detainees. Although the cells do not have windows, there is plenty of natural light following the replacement of the exterior masonry with glass bricks. Furthermore, an opening at the top of the exterior masonry provides fresh air and ventilation of the cells as required by the international standards. This was the result of the implementation of recommendations made from an earlier visit held in 2015. Report details