Wall of police unions on the rule for the military: 'Authoritarian twist'

"An authoritarian twist." Divided on many things, the police unions have raised a wall against the hypothesis put forward by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto of including, in the new security decree, the possibility of extending judicial police powers to the military. A de facto unanimous no which, at least according to the latest hypotheses circulating and the silent pressure of the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and the Chief of Police Vittorio Pisani, should have produced the desired result.

"The powers that affect the fundamental freedoms of citizens - Siap secretary Giuseppe Tiani cuts short - require specific training, experience and organization of the offices". Furthermore, warns the Association of Police Officers, the union representing the managers of the Department of Public Security, extending the prerogatives of prefects and police commissioners to the armed forces "would risk introducing overlapping skills, uncertainties in operational responsibilities and critical issues in a system that requires clarity of the chain of command and specific professionalism, especially in the most complex situations".

The Anfp explains that law 121 of 1981, which demilitarized the Police, "does not represent a simple organizational structure, but one of the pillars of the democratic security system. An organizational balance that cannot be modified in the wake of the emergency".

If the measure were to pass, it would be "a leap in the dark", says the Silp CGIL: "The armed forces operate with logic, means and preparation designed for scenarios completely different from those of a city square". And Coisp also speaks of an "unhealthy" idea: instead of "looking for shortcuts that do not resolve the shortcomings and risk confusing roles and responsibilities", the government "must invest in those who carry out this job every day, with hiring, training, means and adequate protection", states the secretary Domenico Pianese who also provides numbers on the contribution of the Police for the security arrangements of the latest demonstrations: "1,580 of the 2,140 reinforcement units assigned to the police headquarters on on a national scale they were policemen", therefore 74% of the total.

Since the beginning of the year, however, the percentage of reinforcements for the management of demonstrations, including football matches and various events, is 68%.

Before financing further employment of soldiers, it is therefore the conclusion of the majority of the unions, we must think about the 'real' priorities of the police. "The government - explains Siap - finds the 117 million euros for overtime worked by policemen in 2025 and still unpaid. And allocates the 25 million necessary for the accommodation of agents on mobility and missions, still unfunded".