Cyprus Police Detention Centre Security Under Review After Lakatamia Escape

A 19‑year‑old remand prisoner escaped from the Lakatamia holding cells on Friday night, prompting an emergency meeting of police leadership on Saturday. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said the issue will be on the agenda of his regular meeting with the chief of police on Monday afternoon, where possible measures to address longstanding overcrowding at detention facilities will be examined. A 45‑year‑old man suspected of assisting the escape was arrested under a court warrant and remanded for five days by the Nicosia district court. The Nicosia CID continues its investigation. The incident highlights that, according to Eurostat data released earlier in 2026, Cyprus prison cells are the most overcrowded in the EU.