Territorial organization of the Royal Carabinieri (Kingdom of Italy)

Royal Police Corps
Corpo di Polizia Reale
Logo of the Royal Police Corps
Active	1946 - Present
Country	Kingdom of Italy
Type	Light infantry
Role	Gendarmerie
Part of	Ministry of Interior
Institutional colours	Blue, Red and Gold

The Royal Police Corps (Italian: Corpo di Polizia Reale, C.P.R.) is the military corps tasked with the execution of the urban public security services in support of the whole Administration of Public Security and of its civilian officials. The C.P.R. is the main corps, but not the only one, the others being the Carabinieri and the Coast Guard. In particular, the Royal Police Corps has the main task of providing the bulk of personnel assigned to urban police duties, as well as the carrying out of some duties which are not entrusted to any other branch of the whole Administration of Public Security.
The official characterization of the Royal Police Corps is of a military corps with a dual nature: combat corps and police corps. In practice, the C.P.R. is much more oriented towards an all-round police identity, rather than the military/combat side of its nature, although the latter is still present. Although its personnel is pervasively educated by the National Fascist Party, among the ranks a sort of more detached stance remains; nowadays, relations between C.P.R. are exceptionally close, and members of both Corps tend to view members of the other side as colleagues deployed into a different social context but sharing the same beliefs and values. Despite its military legal status, the Royal Police Corps can be more accurately described as a paramilitary rather than a strategic force, neither geared nor equipped towards the fighting or winning of wars, but to its duties of protection of public security and where needs be, execution of armed services.
The C.P.R. is more ancillary to the P.S. Apparatus than the Royal Carabinieri.

History

The Royal Police Corps in its current form owes its existence to three main events: the establishment of the Republican Police Corps (Corpo di Polizia Repubblicana, C.P.R.) in 1946, the end of the Carabinieri in 1948 and the main security reform in 1981. Between 1948 and 1981, the Republican Police Corps was the only stately security force in Italy and for 33 years it had provided all the operational personnel to the whole Public Security complex.

Birth of the Republican Police Corps

On November 1st, 1946, among other name changes, the Corps of Agents of Public Security was renamed "Republican Police Corps", and its hierarchy was reorganized. Nearly all of the upper ranks were dismissed, althouth purges did not take place. Form its beginning, the newly-reorganized Corps was chosen as favourite organization related to the Public Security, in the eyes of some P.N.F. leaders even surpassing the civilian Directorate-General. The old guard of general officers was replaced by officers coming from the M.V.S.N. and by other senior officers particularly loyal to Mussolini. The ranks-and-file of the C.P.R. was staunchly loyal to Fascism, and only a small percentage of troopers was dismissed due to monarchism and loyalty to the King.

End of the Carabinieri

Between late days of October 1946 and the foundation of the then-National Republican Guard (occurred on October 28th, 1948), the Carabinieri underwent a series of major changes and reforms, in order to make them suitable for the planned merger with the most elite MVSN units. On November, 4th 1946, Carabinieri were separated from the new National Republican Army, and they were established as the Arm of the Republican Carabinieri (Arma dei Carabinieri Repubblicani), maintaining their widespread territorial structure. Major debates were held about the Carabinieri's ultimate destiny. Some Party and military leaders supported the general merger of all police and security apparatus in one Gendarmerie force; many others, however, supported the decision to split political and ordinary responsibilities.
In January 30rd, 1947 Mussolini appointed retired Field Army General Rodolfo Graziani as first Commandant General of the Republican Carabinieri; on March 4th, 1947 the new Regulation was enacted, as well as the new Republican oath of allegiance, and by the end of April the uniform changed, adopting the blackshirt. In the fall of 1947 began a significant personnel migration towards the Army.
The territorial structure was maintained, although a bit reduced: some city commands were transferred to the Republican Police Corps, while the rural stations were still kept open.
On March, 23rd 1948, during a speech before a Carabinieri-MVSN joint exercise, Benito Mussolini told about the establishment of a new force, capable to keep traditions and to be a truly Fascist Republican apparatus. By May, 8th 1948, the transfer of the Carabinieri territorial structure and personnel to the Public Security apparatus was completed: officers could choose between the re-enlistment in the Army with the rank held, the enrolment as Public Security civilian officials, the direct transfer to the Republican Police Corps (within the increased operational needs) or the permanence within the National Republican Guard. A significant, but minor part (7%) chose to retire, while the bulk of officers (73%) chose to remain in service within the Armed Forces (especially the Republican Police Corps and the Army, but also in the Navy and in the Air Force; only a relatively minor part (14%) remained in the National Republican Guard.
However, Carabinieri were not officially disbanded; they were reduced to a cadre organization, with few C.P.R. officers designed to be the nucleus of a reformed organization. The on-paper survival of the Carabinieri was achieved thanks to an intense lobbying activity and to the presence of doubts and differing view within the ruling group of the new Republic.

Evolution of the Corps

Between 1948 and 1978 the Republican Police Corps attempted to build an its own identity in order to gain the public's confidence, despite the progressively incresing instability, both economic and political. The official slogan of the Corps, for the first 32 years, was "A new Force for a new State", both linking to the institutional changes and to the efficiency rethrics.

C.P.R. as Carabinieri's heir

The characterization of the C.P.R. as the Carabinieri legitimate heir dates back to mid 1970s, when the Italian political elite began to deteriorate, and some policy-makers sought to strengthen both the morale and the legitimation of the police. On February 28th, 1978 then-Minister of National Defence Giovanni Spadolini and then-Minister of Interior, Francesco Cossiga, made a joint speech, where the Carabinieri's War Flag was declared the national insignia of the Republican Police Corps. The following day all awards and decorations awarded to the Arm of Carabinieri as a whole (Decorazioni alla Bandiera) were officially transferred to the Corps. Together Carabinieri's awards, the CPR inherited also their ethics and traditions, as well as the dual budgetary links with the Interior Ministry (for police operations) and with the Defence Ministry (equipment, personnel, barracks and facilities).

1981 security reform onwards

Carabinieri and Coast Guard as separate corps were re-established in 1981 in a major overhaul of police services; differently from the past, all police services share the same awards and traditions, and in turn share most of them with the other Armed Forces. In 1981 the whole security apparatus was reorganized; the re-establishment of the Carabinieri (from the small group formally tasked to give birth again to the Arma) greatly affected the Republican Police Corps, which was deprived of all its rural stations and bodies, including the State forestry Corps and of a relevant chunk of its mobile and special forces. The C.P.R. however managed to mantain the overall unity and superiority over all the military forces tasked with police duties; the Republican Guard of Finance also remained within the urban police.

Nowadays he C.P.R. is also involved in international police missions as stand-alone gendarmerie force; when deployed abroad in conjunction with the M.V.S.N., the C.P.R. maintains the leadership.

An internal military force

The Royal Police Corps is a military corps which depend exclusively on the Minister of the Interior, albeit it is modelled after the Army: therefore some powers are exercised in a somehow different way:

• The powers of the Minister of National Defence are exercised by the Minister of the Interior in peacetime;
• The powers of the Commanders of Army Corps, Territorial Commanders and higher posts, are exercised by the Chief of Police. During wartime, the Chief of Defence Staff steps in for military duties;
• The powers of the Commander of Army Corps are exercised by the General Inspector;
• The powers of the corps commander are exercised by: Area Inspectorates Commanders, by School Commanders, by Unit Commanders and by Group Commanders, as well as by the Commander of the Autonomous Group of the Ministry of the Interior.

In general, in terms of conducting public security operations and relevant capability building, the CPR Inspectorate is under the leadership and command of the Ministry of Interiors, and the CPR units at and below the Contingent level are under the leadership and command of the public security organs at the same level. Special police units are subject to the leadership of the CPR headquarters, the relevant Public Security body and the relevant government agency; in some cases, such as the traffic police units, there are not civilian police officials.

Commandant-General of the Royal Police Corps

The Royal Police Corps is led by the Commandant-General of the Royal Police Corps (Comandante Generale del Corpo di Polizia Reale), chosen among Lieutenant Generals; he is appointed by decree of the Duce on the proposal of Minister of Interior, after hearing the Chief of the General Staff. The Commandant-General has the rank of Lieutenant General with Special Duties, superordinate to all Lieutenants General of the Royal Police Corps and directly subordinate to the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps. In case of absence, impediment or vacation of the office, is replaced by the Deputy Commandant-General.

Powers in the operational, training and logistics fields

The Commandant-General of the Royal Police Corps determines the ordering, the territorial circumscriptions, the organisms and the operating modalities of the commands, departments, units, institutes and various bodies, determines the establishment or the suppression of fixed places or temporary stations, training of personnel, approves the publications of the Royal Police Corps. The Commandant-General also determines the policies of employment of technical material, on the basis of the directives of the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps and, for military duties, of the Chief of the General Defence Staff.

Powers in recruitment, status, progress and employment fields

The Commandant-General proposes to the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps the destinations of the Lieutenant Generals and, for the needs in the law enforcement field, of the officers to be used for international use, in joint tasks and in other departments.
The Commandant-General determines the destinations of the dependent officers, giving prior notice to the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps for the Major and Brigadier Generals.
The Commandant-General chairs the Superior Commission for the Advancement of the officers of the Royal Police Corps, is vice-president of the Supreme Commission for the Advancement (if it deals with officers of the Royal Police Corps), he indicates to the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps the general officers to propose to the Minister of Interior as members of the progress commissions. The Commandant-General chairs the commission for the expression of the opinion on the granting of the rewards to the value and merit of the Royal Police Corps. The Commandant-General can directly order the formal investigation against the employees and designates the members of the disciplinary board for the personnel against whom he has ordered the formal investigation.

Powers in the financial and administrative field

The Commandant-General performs the functions of chief programmer, of general director, titular of administrative responsibility and of territorial military commander on the whole national territory.

Operational forces

The Royal Police Corps has military status and in wartime is a full part of the Armed Forces of the State; it is articulated in three main branches: the Territorial Forces deployed in Questure, Commissariats and Offices of P.S., the Special Forces, that are the C.P.R.-part for the Specialities of both the Corps and the P.S. Administration, and the Mobile Forces, which consists of the Celere Units and of other units tasked with paramilitary and security duties; such branches have little relevance in day-to-day operations, although they are used for payment purposes.

Territorial Forces

Alongside the Mobile and Special Forces, the Corps has a territorial structure: it is stationed in every provincial capital and in major non-capital cities, with its own officers, and placed under locaò Quaestors, under the the overall command of the Chief of Police in Rome. For the territorial organization, the basic element is the Provincial Group. The Group manages personnel, logistical and training matters of members of the Corps assigned to Questure and Commissariats. Other personnel assigned to the same city, but not part of the Specialities or other units rely on the Provincial Group only for the purposes of accomodation, food and logistics. The 110 Provincial Groups (Raggruppamenti Provinciali) are commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel (in major cities). In a medium-sized city there are usually 1,200 to 1,500 police officers, but considerably more in large cities such as Milan or Naples, where there may be as many as 4,000 members of the C.P.R. and the Commander of the Provincial Group is a Colonel. In the Governorate of Rome, when the number of police officers is very high, the commander is a Brigadier General, functionally subordinated to the Latium Area Inspectorate.
Ordinarily, the Provincial Group does not step in police operations, but it may do step in during exceptional public order emergencies or in wartime. Finally, each Provincial Group reports, for both preventive and repressive military police duties, to the relevant Army District Command, although it is not part of the Army; the Provincial Group MP section is often merged with its Army counterpart.
Below the Provincial Group there are the Subgroups (Sottogruppi, usually one in the provincial capital and the others across the province, but this can vary according to the needs), in turn divided into Squads (Squadre, one per major subdivision of the Questura and/or Commissariat), Sections (Sezioni) and Teams (Nuclei), each assigned to an individual subdivision of the provincial organization of the Public Security; for the sake of comparison, usually an urban Territorial Police Station is manned by a Section. Provincial Groups are organized in 21 Area Inspectorates (Ispettorati di Zona), led by Brigadier Generals, which in turn are framed within 5 Interregional Commands (Comandi Interregionali), led by Major Generals. Those Interregional Commands depend directly on the General Inspector.

Regional Commands

The Area Inspectorates are the units of command, coordination and inspection of all Royal Police Corps services existing in the territorial scope of each Administrative Region. Each Area Inspectorate is structured in Provincial Group. They depend on the relevant Interregional Command, notwithstanding their functional relationships with the support, innovation, personnel and training bodies.

Special Group Malta

The Malta Special Group (Italian: Gruppo Speciale di Malta, Maltese: Grupp Speċjali ta 'Malta) is the C.P.R. Provincial Group assigned to Malta. The division of responsibilities between Carabinieri and Police is somewhat different in Malta. The overall command is represented by the Questura of La Valletta, while the military command is the Malta Police Joint Command (Italian: Comando di Polizia Interforze di Malta, Maltese: Kmand Konġunt tal-Pulizija ta 'Malta), a delegation of the Sicilian Area Inspectorate/Legion Command in order to carry out joint responsibilities regarding military coordination of the Corps activities, personnel allocation, and special requirements.
Subordinate to the Questura there are four Commissariats: Gozzo-Comino, Malta Settentrionale, Malta Meridionale and La Valletta. The Joint Command coordinates the two Carabinieri Companies (Gozzo-Comino and Malta Settentrionale) subordinate to the Carabinieri Malta Special Group and the two C.P.R. Subgroups (La Valletta and Malta Meridionale) subordinate to the C.P.R. Malta Special Group.
Carabinieri personnel assigned to municipalities within the boundaries a Commissariat associated with a C.P.R. Subgroup forms a "Detachment" subordinate to the Malta Meridionale Company, while C.P.R. personnel assigned to municipalities within the boundaries a Commissariat associated with a Carabinieri Company forms a similar "Detachment" under the La Valletta Subgroup.
The Royal Police Corps Special Group patrols the capital city, La Valletta, and municipalties over 10,000 inhabitants: Birchircara, Birzebbugia, Casal Attard, Casal Melleha, Casal Santa Caterina, Casal Zebbugi, Curmi, Figura, Marsascala, Mosta, Nasciaro, Rabato della Notabile, San Giovanni a Malta, San Giuliano di Malta, San Paolo a Mare, Sliema, Suiechi, Zabbaria, Zurrico, on Malta Island, while the Carabinieri Special Group is in charge for the remaining municipalities.

Special Forces

The Special Forces of the C.P.R. (not to be confused with both "Special Units" of the public security tasked with counter-terrorist duties and the military special forces) are those units assigned to the various Ministries in order to carry out specialized police services. Unlike the other two branches, they are framed under an unified command, the C.P.R. Special Forces Command.
The Special Forces Command, led by a Major General, is under the direct dependencies of the General Inspector, and performs management functions, coordination and control of their own departments, which, perform tasks connected with those of the corresponding Special Inspectorates of Public Security. The Command itself has limited responsibilities, mainly in fields as disciplinary administration and general personnel management. On the contrary, each single Speciality Group (Gruppo di Specialità) depends on the relevant Special Inspectorate, which provides training and operational management. As a general rule, the Speciality Group Commander is in charge of personnel, logistics and disciplinary matters, most often also for civilian personnel. Ordinarily, the Speciality Commander ranks Colonel and also acts as chief of staff of the Special Inspectorate head (usually an Inspector General).
Still considered as Special Forces of the C.P.R. but outside the Special Forces Command, there are some services which are dependent on specific Divisions of the Directorate General of Public Security: Border Police (dependent on Division VIII - Border Police) and Highway Police Service, Railway Police Service, Airport Police Service (all dependent on Division IX - Transportation Police).

Mobile Forces

Celere units badge.

Within the Royal Police Corps, the Mobile Forces consist of those units tasked with the execution of riot suppression, riot control, counter-terrorism and territorial support duties, as well as the carrying out of first-instance rescue and civil protection service, both in conjunction with the M.V.S.N. or alone. The C.P.R. Mobile Forces are organized jointly with those of the Carabinieri, in order to enchance training and deployment; nonetheless, they retain a distinct identity.
Celere Units are commanded by a Colonel each, assisted by a Senior Officer acting as deputy and they depend directly on the General Inspector, while functionally they are directed by the Public Order Office. Commanding officers deal with non-operational issues, such as disciplnary matters, training, logistics, at least in peacetime when the deployment of a whole Unit in a single occasion is pratically unheard. Each Celere Unit is administratively considered as a small Army Regiment (each Unit consisting of 1 to 2 Battalions).
Currently, C.P.R. Mobile Forces units are:

• Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers (head-quartered in Pavia), for sudden crisis and emergency;
• Cavalry Squadrons Group of P.S. "Misurata" (head-quartered in Rome): it is organized into three Squadrons (based in Milan, Florence and Padua) and used in order to reinforce public order services as well as for operations in rural areas;
• 10 Celere Units of Public Security, organized into two large brigades (the third brigade is of CC and the smallest one):
  • 1st Celere Brigade "Pontida": HQs in Milan, in charge for Celere Units based in Padua (II Raggruppamento Celere "Tre Monti"), in Milan (III Raggruppamento Celere "Solstizio"), in Moncalieri (Turin province, IV Reparto Celere "Istrana"), in Genoa (V Reparto Celere "Vittorio Veneto") and in Bologna (VI Reparto Celere "Premuda");
  • 2nd Celere Brigade "Palestrina": HQs in Rome, in charge for Celere units based in Rome (I Raggruppamento Celere "Isonzo"), in Florence (VII Reparto Celere "Ganale Doria"), in Senigallia (Ancona province, VIII Reparto Celere "Kunfida"), in Sassari (IX Reparto Celere "Coatit") and in Cagliari (X Reparto Celere "Scirè").

All such units may also be deployed in the Realms of the Italian Empire, should the need arise. Celere units are maintained in virtually self-sufficient compounds and are trained to work as a coordinated force. Officers live in dormitories within riot barracks compounds and share the harsh training with the troops. Training is continuous and focuses on physical conditioning, mock battles, and tactical problems. Celere barracks are the Police places where the military atmosphere prevails: dress codes, behaviour standards, and rank differentiations (although somewhat counterbalanced by the intense esprit de corps) are far more strictly adhered to than in the territorial Public Security apparatus.

Organisation

Celere Units (Reparti Celere) are units intended for use on the national territory for the protection of public order. They are also used to assist the local police, both in conjunction with the M.V.S.N. or alone. Commanding officers deal with non-operational issues, such as disciplnary matters, training, logistics. Each Celere Unit is administratively considered as a small Army Regiment (1-2 Battalions).
Celere units depend on one of the two Brigades, which in turn depend directly on the Commandant-General of the C.P.R. In implementation of the orders given by the Chief of Police, the Commandant-General arranges the use of the Celere units at the request of the Provincial Authorities of Public Security. A peculiar characteristic for the members of the Celere units is represented by the obligation of permanence in the barracks, according to which the personnel, at night, must necessarily stay at the Unit's barracks, in order to allow, in case of need, the use of operating units in public rescue or public order operations.

5-7 Operational Companies, 200 men each (4 Platoons), with Carabinieri Battalions having generally fewer Companies.

All Riot units are grouped within the Mobile and Celere Units Division and in three Brigades, although the Division has only general coordination tasks and some de facto autonomy is ensured. The Provincial Authority of Public Security requests the use of Celere Units or Mobile Battalions, and the Director General of Public Security orders the deployment, together with the special vehicles. The minimum operational level is the 10-men Team. Each Platoon is fully motorised and can be deployed also as a mechanized force if necessary to counter external invasion attempts. The added value of the Celere Units and Mobile Battalions is represented by the deployment of policemen trained togheter and used to live and fight togheter.

The Commandant-General of the Royal Police Corps follows the efficiency of the units, issues guidelines avout the criteria for the personnel selection and training and indicates the characteristics of infrastructure, vehicles and materials. Celere units are characterized by an essential organizational structure, operational peculiarities and equipment of materials and materials related to the various operational needs.

Each Celere unit has the same organization:

• Command Company: a Colonel is in charge of the Celere unit, responsible for the operational efficiency of the entire unit. It employs a Deputy Commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, who oversees the logistic and administrative technical sectors and performs vicarious functions.
• Administration Office: it is managed by a Major; is divided into various sections: General affairs, Vehicles, Communications, Administration, Logistics, Health office, Services office.
• Operational units.

Command Company

The Command Company groups all management bodies of the Celere Unit. It consists of 7 Officers (2 Medical Officers), 16 Subofficers (4 Medical Subofficers) and 77 troops. The Command Company deals with the support to operational activties of the Celere Units. The Office consists of six sections: General affairs, Vehicles, Communications, Administration, Logistics, Health office, Services office.

• Command Office, for the coordination of internal activities and the treatment of general affairs, personnel, training, warehouse and armory; it generally consists of Commander, Deputy Commander, 3 Subofficers and 17 troops, with the Security Secretariat, Personnel Office, Training Office, an Archives:
  • Security Secretariat: manages the activities related to recruitment by staff, takes care of correspondence with other Offices and Bodies, the preparation of statistics and periodic reports on the logistics and operational situation of the Department, instructs the disciplinary practices and takes care of each another task relevant to the command function.
  • Personnel Office: takes care of the issuing and renewal of identification documents, the admission of personnel, the updating of records, the drafting of informative reports, the health practices, the recognition of infirmities due to service and the attribution of fair compensation, drawing up the appropriate communications and statistics.
  • Training Office: takes care of the programming related to the training and professional updating of the Department. In particular, program and organize shooting training sessions.
  • Archives: takes care of every task related to the receipt and sending of correspondence, with annexed activities of registration and custody of the files.

• Vehicles Office, consists of a Movement Section and a Car workshop (1 Subofficer and 16 troops). The Motorization Section takes care of the procedures relating to the equipment, maintenance and changes of vehicles, the periodic accounting of fuels and lubricants, road accidents with related insurance obligations, admissions to the Autocentro, the issue and renewal of ministerial driving licenses, of all drivers training.

• Telecommunications Office (1 Subofficer and 9 troops), for the need for efficient connections via radio, telephone and telematic and for the management and maintenance of equipment and systems; he is in charge of the Technical Roles. The Telecommunications section consists of:
  • Tactical Communications Section: takes care of the fulfilments related to messaging and the tasks of the IT sector.
  • Operations Room: performs the 24-hour shift service, ensuring radio links between patrols or contingents and the whole Unit. The Operations Room is also in constant radio contact with the Operations Room of the relevant Questura.

• Administrative Section, for the asset and accounting management of personnel employed by the Unit. The Section is headed by an official of the Civil Administration of the Interior. The Section deals with the duties related to the economic treatment of personnel, makes the deductions for various reasons, prepares acts relating to the treatment of retirement and provides tax assistance to staff.

• Logistics Section: the Logistics Section takes care of the needs of provisioning, social and recreational activities, as well as maintenance and works; is divided into Canteen Office, Magazzino V.E.C.A. and Armoury:
  • Canteen Office (1 Subofficer and 9 troops): ensures the management of the service canteen and the related accounting relating to purchases and supplies.
  • Warehouse: ensures the procurement, taking charge, custody, inventory, registration, distribution, collection and disposal of the kinds of clothing, equipment and armament.
  • Armoury: carries out continuous 24-hour service; it distributes the necessary armament goods every day for the performance of the services, noting the name of the assignee, the timetable, the serial number and drawing up frequent inventories.
• Health Office, for preventive and curative medicine needs, as well as for the surveillance of the hygienic and sanitary structures.
• Services Office: it plans and manages the daily use of the operational force of the Unit, taking care of the turnovers of the 24-hour services and the rotation of those of another type, in close connection with the Cabinet Office of the Questura.

Operational units

The personnel of the Celere Units, with the exception of the one used for bureaucratic services, has a very low average age, around 24 years, being largely of Auxiliary Agents (conscripted personnel) or of Agents with a few years of seniority. In practice, the Mobile Units are normally assigned first-appointment Lieutenants, who remain for three or four years and are alternated by other officers of equal requisites. This allows them to mature a particularly formative and certainly positive period in terms of experience in the public order services, management of human and material resources and personnel management, under the guidance of the Commander and the most experienced Officers.

The basic operational unit is the Squad, composed ordinarily by nine Agents and Appointees and led by a Sergeant. The Squad can in some cases have a different consistency.

The Platoon is a subdivision of the Company and consists of several Squads. It is directed by a Marshal or a Under Lieutenant. The complex operating unit is the Company, ordinarily consisting of 20 Squads. The Company is in charge of an Officer with a rank not higher than Major. This "limitation" is motivated by several considerations: first of all, the need to entrust the unit to a young Officer, for his presumable greater psycho-physical resistance to the considerable inconveniences deriving from the assignment, including the numerous services of public order, as well as to have staff without substantial family loads.

In medium to small Celere Units, Companies are directly subordinated to the Commander. In greater Celere Groupings (Raggruppamenti Celere), the Unit (Reparto) is a Battalion-level echelon, intermediate between Company and the overall Command. Nowadays, the I, II and III Celere Groupings (in Rome, Padua and Milan) have two Units (Reparti) each.

Training Command

The Division of Police Schools and Training Institutes deals with training of both civilian officials and military personnel of all ranks. Alongside the training to become a civilian official, the Division deals with the military training of both C.P.R. and Carabinieri cadets, while Coast Guard officers are drawn all from the Navy; this functional area includes the Regular Course of the Academy of Public Security (Corso Regolare dell'Accademia di Pubblica Sicurezza), which trains officer cadets, the Sub-Officers School (Scuola Sottufficiali) and the Agents and Carabinieri Training Centre (Centro Addestramento Agenti e Carabinieri). All these schools are led by a Carabinieri/C.P.R. Brigadier General on a rotational basis, while the teaching corps draws from all militarized police forces. The Academy of Public Security, the Specialization schools and the training centres are framed under the Training Command, reporting to the General Inspector.

Academy of Public Security

The Academy of Public Security (Accademia di Pubblica Sicurezza) provides courses of instruction for cadets and application, refresher and specialization courses for officers of all militarized police forces. The Academy is led by a Major General, usually of the C.P.R. With regard to C.P.R., the Academy prepares officers for Celere Units, Traffic Police, Specialities and Institutes of Education, in addition to the Inspectorates and provincial Groups; the purpose of the Academy is to train officers who are really policemen, and not mere clean uniform and shaved beard controllers.

Specialization schools

The Public Security apparatus has several specialization schools and centres; as a rule, these schools are handled and operated by Division IV - Police Schools, although a few (especially the transportation services schools) are managed by the relevant Division. Often such schools and training centres train and educate also personnel coming from the Army, the GRdF and the MVSN (all branches).

• Nautical and Diving Centre (Centro Nautico e Sommozzatori) - Led by a Coast Guard officer;
• Aircraft Pilots Training School (Scuola di Addestramento per piloti di aereo) - led by a Carabinieri/C.P.R. officer on a rotational basis;
• Helicopter Pilots Training School (Scuola di Addestramento per piloti di elicottero) - led by a Carabinieri/C.P.R. officer on a rotational basis;
• Air Specialists Training School (Scuola di Addestramento per specialisti di bordo) - led by a Carabinieri/C.P.R. officer on a rotational basis;
• Mechanic Maintenance Training School (Scuola di Addestramento per meccanico e manutentore) - led by a Carabinieri/C.P.R. officer on a rotational basis;
• Alpine Police School (Scuola di Polizia Alpina) - led by a Carabinieri officer;
• School of Judicial, Administrative and Investigative Police (Scuola di Polizia Giudiziaria, Amministrativa e Investigativa, Pol.G.A.I.), where personnel is trained in the core matters.

Disciplinary Committee

The Royal Police Corps, due to its proximity and interpenetration with the civilian Public Security apparatus, has an its own way to enforce discipline and military regulations, which is not shared with other military corps tasked with police duties (relying instead on classical military procedures.
The Disciplinary Committee is composed of the Prefect, who convenes and presides over it, with the right to appoint a substitute, by the Quaestor or his Vicar and by a senior officer of the Corps, designated by the Area Inspector. An officer of the Royal Police Corps, appointed by the Area Inspector, of rank not higher than captain, perform the duties of secretary.
In proceedings for disciplinary committees for Subofficers, some peculiarities are in force. Some people are excluded from the disciplinary committee: first of all, the exclusion is towards some officers, such as the superior who has submitted reports or carried out investigations into the events that led to the disciplinary proceedings or who has an office relating to the discipline of sub-officers, or the superior in rank who in any way had a part in a previous judgement or the Disciplinary Committee for the same offence, or has been heard as a witness in the disciplinary matter referred to it, or officers attending training courses or subjected to criminal or disciplinary proceedings; secondly, some other people are de jure excluded, such as the relatives, up to the third degree, the injured or damaged person and their relatives, relatives of the Subofficer subject to the proceeding, up to the fourth degree included.

Ranks and insignia of the Directorate General of Public Security

Civilian officials are the emanation of the Authority of Public Security, and normally they do not wear uniforms; however, in some specified occasions, also civilian officials of Public Security have to wear police uniforms; these uniforms are the same model of the uniforms used by the Royal Police Corps. It should be noted that the Officials career of the Public Security Administration has the rank of Director General (Rank IV), but at central level this rank is replaced by the rank of Prefect, 2nd Class (Rank IV). Directors General, 1st Class are classed into Rank IV, but they do are senior in rank to the rest of Rank IV positions. Prefects 2nd Class assigned to Public Security positions come exclusively from the Officials of Public Security promoted to the rank of Prefect and they count within the 20% of Prefects which do not come from the Prefect career; in some Divisional positions, Prefects, 1st Class are appointed.
The Chief of Police - Director General of Public Security and his Deputy are Prefects, 1st Class (Rank III, drawn from police career) but they are senior in rank to other Prefects, 1st Class, to Directors General, 1st Class (which is an internal subdivision of the rank Director General), to Lieutenants General and to the General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps.

Royal Police Corps Special Ranks insignia
Special rank	Comandante Generale del Corpo di Polizia Reale	Generale Ispettore dei Corpi Militari di Polizia
English translation	Commandant-General of the Royal Police Corps	General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali	Generale d'Armata
Corresponding Army rank (UK)	Lieutenant General	General
Shoulder board insignia

Public Security military officers and civilian officials ranks and insignia
Public Security officials rank (civilian)	Vice-Commissario Aggiunto di P.S.	Vice-Commissario di P.S.	Commissario di P.S.	Commissario Capo di P.S.	Vice Questore	Ispettore di Polizia Questore di Seconda Classe	Ispettore Generale Questore di Prima Classe	Prefetto di Seconda Classe Capodivisione Dirigente Generale di P.S. di Ufficio Periferico o Speciale	Prefetto di Prima Classe Dirigente Generale di Prima Classe di P.S.
English translation	Additional Deputy Commissioner of Public Security	Deputy Commissioner of P.S.	Commissioner of P.S.	Chief Commissioner of P.S.	Deputy Quaestor	Police Inspector Police Inspector Quaestor, 2nd Class	Inspector General Quaestor, 1st Class	Prefect, 2nd Class in charge of a Division Director General of P.S. in charge of Peripheral or Special Office	Prefect, 1st Class Director General of P.S., 1st Class
Royal Police Corps rank	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Brigadier Generale	Maggior Generale	Tenente Generale
English translation	Under Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier General	Major General	Lieutenant General
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Generale di Brigata	Generale di Divisione	Generale di Corpo d'Armata
Corresponding Army rank (English)	Second Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier	Major General	Lieutenant General
Shoulder board insignia

Public Security military Subofficers ranks and insignia
Royal Police Corps rank	Maresciallo di P.S.	Maresciallo Capo di P.S.	Maresciallo Maggiore di P.S.
English translation	Marshal of Public Security	Chief Marshal of Public Security	Marshal Major of Public Security
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Maresciallo	Maresciallo Capo	Maresciallo Maggiore
Corresponding Army rank (English)	Warrant Officer Class Two	Warrant Officer Second Class	Warrant Officer First Class
Shoulder board insignia

Public Security military Enlisted ranks and insignia
Royal Police Corps rank	Agente	Agente Scelto	Appuntato	Appuntato Capo	Vicebrigadiere	Brigadiere
English translation	Agent	Agent First Class	Appointee	Chief Appointee	Deputy Sergeant	Sergeant
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Soldato	Caporale	Caporale maggiore	Caporale Capo	Sergente	Sergente Maggiore
Corresponding Army rank (English)	Private	Lance Corporal	Corporal	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Staff Sergeant (senior echelon)
Sleeve insignia	No insignia
Shoulder board insignia

Berets

Air Police Service beret. Most members of the Royal Police Corps wear the so-called "Spanish beret".

The Beret is worn on the service uniform and varies in colour according the branch the policeman belongs to.

Colour		Wearer
	Blue	Territorial units and units assigned to Special Inspectorates
	Red	Celere Units
	Green	Border police
	Maroon	Paratroopers and Special Units
	Sky blue	Air Service
	Sky blue	Air Police Service
	Black	Railway Police Service
	Rosso corsa	Highway Police Service

Police units nomenclature

The Royal Police Corps, differently from the Italian National Royal Army and from the Royal Carabinieri, has an its own units nomenclature.

Italian National Royal Army (Arm of Infantry) English translation	Territorial Forces1 English translation	Special Forces English translation	Mobile Forces English translation
Squadra (Squad)	Sezione (Section)	-	Squadra (Squad)
Plotone Platoon	Squadra (Squad)	Nucleo (Team)	Plotone (Platoon)
Compagnia (Company)	Sottogruppo (Sub-group)	Sezione (Section)	Compagnia (Company)
Battaglione (Battalion)	Gruppo2 (Group)	Divisione (Division)	Reparto (Unit)
Reggimento (Regiment)	Raggruppamento3 (Grouping)	Gruppo di Specialità (Speciality Group)	Raggruppamento (Grouping)
Brigata (Brigade)	Ispettorato di Zona (Area Inspectorate)	-	Brigata (Brigade)
Notes 1 Including Transportation police units; 2 Usually at Provincial level; 3 Rare, used for C.P.R. garrisons in larger cities.

Police units naming conventions

The names of the units of the Royal Police Corps must meet four main conditions:

• Do not repeat the same name;
• Do not attribute to the subordinate units of the same name of the command (at Brigade level) to which they belong;
• Remember, when possible, feats of arms;
• Call up alive the names of the most decorated dissolved units.

Area Inspectorates resume the names of Infantry Brigades who took part in the first World War, and which are not used by the Army or by Carabinieri; in addition, and for all Brigade-level commands, names of mythological creatures are used; the Mobile Forces Brigades adopt the name of battles or of significant events in the national history. Battalion and Regiment-level units have a more complex naming convention:

• Celere Units and Groupings take names of feats of arms;
• Provincial Groups take names of fallen decorated with a gold medal;
• Specialist Groups take Winds names;
• Other units at battalion level adopt names of birds of prey.

A common factor, finally, is the criterion to remember the town where for many years the unit resides, where it is not possible to adopt the above criteria.

See also

• Law enforcement in the Kingdom of Italy
• Administration of Public Security (Italy)
• Chief of Police of the Kingdom of Italy
• General-Inspector of the Militarized Police Corps (Kingdom of Italy)
• Royal Carabinieri