NCJ Number
55006
Journal
Polizia Moderna Volume: 30 Issue: 8-9 Dated: (AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 10-15,76-82
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS FULL TEXT OF A PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON POLICE REFORM IN ITALY'S LOWER CHAMBER (AUGUST 1978) POINTS TO THE AGREEMENT AMONG THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL PARTIES ON THE NECESSITY OF POLICE REFORM.
Abstract
AS WAS DRAMATICALLY DEMONSTRATED BY THE KIDNAPPING AND ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PREMIER ALDO MORO IN 1978 AND ALSO BY THE DAILY INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT POLITICAL CRIMES IN ITALY, THE LOCAL POLICE, AS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED, IS NOT EFFECTIVE. IN GENERAL, POLITICIANS ON THE EXTREME LEFT AND LEFT EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR UNIONIZATION OF POLICE PERSONNEL AND DEMILITARIZATION OF THE PRESENT HIERARCHICAL AND DISCIPLINARY STRUCTURE OF THE POLICE WHICH THEY PERCEIVE AS 'UNDEMOCRATIC' AND 'DEMEANING' FOR THE LOWER RANKS. A BASIC AGREEMENT BY ALL EMERGES ON THE AREAS THOUGHT TO BE MOST IN NEED OF REFORM ALTHOUGH NOT IN THE SAME ORDER OF PRIORITY: (1) POLICE MANAGEMENT, (2) PERSONNEL CLASSIFICATION, (3) STRICT CODIFICATION OF DISCIPLINARY RULES, (4) DEFINITION AND CODIFICATION OF DISCRETIONARY POWERS AND JURISDICTION, AND (5) PERSONNEL TRAINING (WHICH CAN BE ACHIEVED BY ESTABLISHING A POLICE ACADEMY). SPOKESMEN OF VARIOUS PARTIES POINTED OUT THAT THE ITALIAN POLICE, AS IS PRESENTLY STRUCTURED AND ORGANIZED, IS INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED, WITH AN URGENT NEED FOR AT LEAST 20,000 ADDITIONAL POLICEMEN (IN 1978); IT NEEDS MORE SELECTIVE RECRUITING POLICIES; POLICE SQUADS IN LARGE URBAN CENTERS NEED GREATER MOBILITY TO INSURE SWIFTER RESPONSE CAPABILITIES (MORE VEHICLES AND IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS); AND OVERLAPPING AND LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE EXISTING POLICE ORGANIZATIONS (POLICE, MILITARY POLICE, AND CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROLS, NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED. POLITICANS OF LEFT, RIGHT, AND CENTER ALSO AGREE ON THE TWO ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES OF A TRULY EFFECTIVE, REFORMED POLICE FORCE AS BEING THE ASSURANCE OF THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND THE FREEDOM OF ALL CITIZENS, AND (2) OF THE VIABILITY OF ALL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS THAT ARE DEMOCRATICALLY ARRIVED AT AND APPROVED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. --IN ITALIAN. (LGR)