Municipal police (Italy)
The Polizia Municipale (also Polizia Locale or Polizia Comunale, in German in South Tyrol city police and municipal police) is the civilian Italian community police. All cities and almost all communities in Italy entertain such a police force that reports to the respective mayors or city council and the legal supervision of the Italian regions or autonomous provinces (for example, South Tyrol) is subject. The prefects or government commissioners, therefore, the representatives of the Italian central government in the provinces that have these local police forces in specific situations as well.
Tasks
The regions or autonomous provinces lay down the legal framework and the exact definition of the tasks of the communal police. As a rule, they are responsible for the regulation and supervision of the local road and take protective policing duties, unless they are carried out by national police authorities. In addition to them by municipalities and regions are assigned duties of environmental protection, tourism security, the fight against small crime, police and market supervision in the area. Especially in the larger communities, the communal police take over a large part of the tasks of the national authorities and can be armed to do so. As local knowledge police unit they are often the first and important reference point for the population.
" Vigili Urbani "
The popular name " vigili Urbani " ("city guards " ) is no longer officially used. In the past, the Italian community police forces were active only in closed ( "urban " ) settlement areas. In the 1990s, its remit was extended to the whole urban and rural areas of the respective communities, making a name change went hand in hand. The Italian Constitution, the term " Polizia Locale" ( local police ) is used, but most Italian regions write their communities to use the designation " Polizia Municipale " before. In some cases it is also called " Polizia Comunale " in Lombardy " Polizia Locale", in South Tyrol in German "City Police " or " Community Police ", in Rome because of the special capital city status since 2011 " Polizia Locale di Roma Capitale ", or " Polizia Roma Capitale ". The simple local police themselves are popularly continue " vigili " (singular: " vigil ", dt as " Sergeant " ) called, the official name is now, however, " agente di polizia locale". They are distinguished in many cases ( depending on the municipality ) to their headgear which resembles the helmets of London " Bobbies ".
Municipal Security Guard
According to a law passed in summer 2009 (94 /2009) Italian cities and towns have the ability to set local security Wachten. Citizens can engage in certain conditions, non-profit organizations and provide voluntary police service in this framework. As conditions have to be met, among others: a certain minimum age, no criminal record, no membership in political organizations and pass a test. Will be given preference former policemen and soldiers. The security of monitored persons and whose members are controlled by the prefects and trained by the police. In use, they are subject to the communal police, however, do not belong to this. The volunteers of the security guard are not armed and do not have uniforms, but are merely to recognize safety vests. You are not authorized to exercise direct coercion. The strips must not consist of more than three people. They serve the local crime prevention, including at schools, public parks and the like. By means of mobile phone or radio notify to the regular police safety occurrences.
The introduction of the safety Wachten is very controversial in Italy for its alleged resemblance to vigilante. For this reason, there are not numerous, mostly of left-wing parties dominated municipalities. In many cases, however, communities have volunteers who give each identified non-locals on the streets and squares of information and provide assistance, but do not take security tasks.