Crimes orchestrated from prisons in South Cyprus, Justice Minister admits

The Minister of Justice and Public Order (South), Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, acknowledged today during a Parliament session that crimes were orchestrated from within prisons in Cyprus.

According to Philenews, she declared a commitment to addressing the issue, emphasizing the need for increased police presence within correctional facilities for various reasons.
“Yes, there have been crimes planned and executed from within the prisons. It is a grave concern, and we are fully aware of it. The police must have access to prisons for multiple reasons. There is now a different approach compared to the past,” she said.

Procopiou stated, implying that previous administrations of the correctional system might have faced challenges with law enforcement’s entry into prison premises.

Additionally, the Minister revealed plans to enhance the anti-drone system within prisons, which is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. The system is set to be imported from Israel and will serve various other government agencies.

In terms of securing a dedicated space for detaining juvenile offenders, she mentioned that discussions are ongoing about establishing a temporary facility within existing prisons until a permanent solution outside the prison system can be found.

(Source: Philenews)