Justice Ministry recruits prison guards amid assaults and harassment allegation
Fifteen prison guards have been hired and 14 more recruited as the Justice Ministry addresses staffing shortages and incidents at central prisons.
Nicosia, Cyprus. The Justice Ministry has hired 15 prison guards and recruited a further 14 amid staffing shortages at the central prisons, where two guards were allegedly assaulted within three days and a female inmate reported alleged sexual harassment by a guard.
The ministry said on Friday that it was aware of the reports emerging from the prison and that “all matters are under investigation”.
Recruitment and training
The 14 newly recruited guards will undergo two months of training. The ministry is also planning enhanced training for new prison guards with the involvement of the University of Cyprus.
Justice Minister Costas Fitiris visited the central prisons on Wednesday to assess conditions at the facility.
The ministry is also examining alternative sentences and arrangements for people serving short prison terms as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and pressure on staff.
Reported assaults
The staffing shortage coincides with several incidents involving guards and inmates at the central prisons.
A guard in ward 4 was reportedly assaulted by a prisoner on Thursday and suffered abrasions. According to reports, the prisoner was subsequently beaten in what was described as retaliation for the assault.
The incident came three days after another prisoner allegedly struck a prison guard. The guard filed a complaint with police, and the prisoner was transferred to ward 4.
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