Country

Cyprus

Detention issue

Protection against violence

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Prison Regulations (Οι περί Φυλακών (Γενικοί) Κανονισμοί του 1997)Number of measures to contain violence in prison but foresee no measures to protect prisoners, to prevent or prosecute such violence. In the event of a confrontation amongst detainees or other violent incidents, the Director can order the use of proportionate violence in order to restore order and safety. Subject to permission from the Prison Director, guards may use bats, tear gas and other chemical substances in order to contain and curb serious incidents amongst detainees, riots, escape of prisoners or destruction of prison property.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2016The NPM has repeatedly referred to violence by police against detainees in police detention centres. Following a widely publicized incident of police officers using violence against a detainee in a police station, the NPM referred to mentalities within the police force that glorify and perpetuate police violence and recommended the compilation of a long term action plan that will lead to comprehensive and targeted measures for the prevention of police violence. Report details
2020Report on the visit to the Paphos Police Detention Centre on 1 September 2020: Of particular concern to me, however, is the fact that the anti-vandal doors of the cells that were in operation and inspected during the visit were defective and I could not lock / unlock them. This endangers both the safety of the detainees and the staff of the premises. Therefore, I suggest that the competent authority repair the doors immediately, in order to avoid any unpleasant events. Report details