Cyprus plans new high-capacity prison to address severe overcrowding

Cyprus is facing a severe prison overcrowding crisis, with the current inmate population reaching 1,164 despite a capacity of only 650 to 720. Approximately 50 inmates are currently held in police cells because of the lack of space, which occasionally forces police to suspend or delay arrests. Minister of Justice Costas Phytiris announced plans for a new correctional facility located on 500,000 square meters of state land between Nicosia and Larnaca. The project is expected to cost approximately 300 million euros and will take four to five years to complete. The new facility will accommodate up to 1,250 inmates and feature three distinct security levels: high-security, semi-open, and open wings. To manage the current crisis, the government is releasing approximately 10 prisoners per week via presidential pardons, targeting 130 total releases by 2026. Phytiris noted that the ministry is also considering a private management model for auxiliary services, similar to the one used for airports, while maintaining state control over security.