Crime & Safety · Cyprus

Union demands action on overcrowding and understaffing following prison fire incidents.

10 sourcesFirst reported 1 day agoUpdated 19 hours ago

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The civil servants' union Pasydy is calling for immediate measures to address overcrowding and understaffing at the Central Prisons following recent incidents, including a fire started by inmates.
The union emphasized that prison occupancy exceeds 200%, contributing to dangerous conditions for both inmates and staff, and reported a prison officer hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
The Prison Staff Sector of the union has expressed concerns about inadequate safety measures and has officially filed a complaint with European oversight authorities regarding working conditions in the prisons.
Following the fire, the unions have requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Justice to discuss potential solutions to the current risks faced by prison staff and inmates.
Previous warnings about the precarious state of prison operations have been reiterated, stating that such circumstances could lead to tragic outcomes if not addressed promptly.

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The civil servants' union, PasyDY, has raised alarm over the working conditions at the Central Prisons following a fire set by inmates on Sunday night. The incident resulted in one prison officer being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. In response, PasyDY and the Prison Staff Branch called for immediate measures to address severe overcapacity and understaffing issues, stating that the prison population exceeds 200% capacity, which contributes to unsafe conditions.

The union highlighted the lack of adequate fire safety measures, such as functional emergency exits, which endanger both inmates and staff. In an official statement, they condemned the recent events as "unacceptable" and indicated plans to seek a meeting with Justice Minister Kostas Fitiris to discuss the urgent need for inmate reduction and improvements in staffing levels.

Separately, the trade union Isotita also called for immediate action, echoing concerns about the risks posed by the current prison environment. They expressed that the situation is precarious and warned that without reform, further tragedies may occur in the prison system. Both unions are pursuing official complaints with appropriate European monitoring bodies regarding these conditions.

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Union demands action on overcrowding and understaffing following prison fire incidents.

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