PASYDY and the Prison Staff Branch wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms, through this statement, the recent incidents at the Central Prison, where inmates deliberately set fire to their cells, resulting in the evacuation of the facility and the intervention of the Fire Department to fully extinguish the blaze.  It should be emphasized that, in addition to the property damage caused by the fire, a fellow correctional officer had to be taken to the hospital due to smoke inhalation.

In light of the unacceptable events that unfolded yesterday at the Central Prison, PASYDY and the Branch wish to reemphasize the urgent need—which has existed for some time—to reduce overcrowding in prisons by immediately lowering the number of inmates.  Overcrowding, which exceeds 200%—the highest rate in the EU— combined with a shortage of staff, inevitably leads to limited capacity for comprehensive monitoring, which is necessary to prevent and deter the escalation of such incidents and events as yesterday’s.

SEE ALSO: Fire broke out in five cells simultaneously at the prison, causing extensive damage

In this regard, it should be noted that the immediate and decisive intervention by staff—evacuating the inmates and preventing the fire from spreading to other areas—was crucial in preventing the worst from happening. It must, however, finally be understood that ensuring normal operating conditions at the Correctional Facility cannot and must not continue to rely solely on the work performed by the staff, who are chronically understaffed.

PASYDY and the Branch once again call for the immediate adoption and implementation of the necessary measures to reinforce the staff and ensure safe and normal working conditions, so that our colleagues can perform their duties smoothly and effectively. Regarding the issue of prison overcrowding, PASYDY and the Branch’s Executive Board intend to request a meeting with the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr. Kostas Fytiris, to discuss and jointly find solutions to immediately address this acute and serious problem, which hinders the smooth operation of the correctional system.

SEE ALSO: Inmates set fire to Wing 4 of the Central Prison; a staff member was hospitalized