Cyprus to review detention centre security after detainee's escape — Cyprus Mail

Cyprus will discuss the security of police detention centres after the escape of a 19-year-old prisoner who was being held in pretrial custody. He escaped on Friday evening from temporary detention cells in Lakatamia. The matter is to be considered on Monday at the regular meeting between Justice Minister Kostas Fitisiris and the police chief.

Detention conditions

As Cyprus Mail reports, the meeting will consider possible measures to address the long-standing overcrowding of facilities holding detainees. According to the minister, the matter falls within the competence of the police leadership, which held an emergency meeting on Saturday after the escape.

The meeting will also assess measures that may be necessary to improve conditions and strengthen security in police detention centres.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Escape investigation

On Sunday, the Nicosia District Court ordered the five-day detention of a 45-year-old man arrested in connection with the escape. He was arrested on Saturday under a court warrant on suspicion of assisting a criminal.

The investigation is being continued by the Nicosia criminal police. Cyprus Police operates short-term cells at local stations, while the prison department is separately responsible for convicted prisoners in the central prison. According to Eurostat data published earlier in 2026, prison cells in Cyprus are, on average, the most overcrowded among EU countries.