Public order and rioting in the Kingdom of Italy
In the Kingdom of Italy, the maintenance of public order and effective riot control is considered as a sensitive issue, in order to manage to resist to any attempt of colour revolution enacted by the Western liberaldemocratic powers.
Public Order
From a politological point of view, the notion of public order is defined as the set of fundamental principles of the legal order concerning ethical and political principles as well as laws whose observance and implementation is considered indispensable for the existence of such order. Public order is also intended as a guarantee of peace, tranquility and collective security. Its maintenance is also protected by means of concrete actions on the part of the police.
In terms of the institutional duties of police officers, the term public order means a set of services inherent in maintaining order conditions in circumstances where an intense influx of people is expected.
Public Order services
Outside of attempts of total subversion of the Fascist Regime, there are several occasions where the public order is put at risk but the political order is not contested. In order to manage these events, the security and police forces enact Public Order services.
When, at meetings or gatherings in a public place, rebellious or seditious events take place or cries seditious or damaging the prestige of authority, or that may endanger public order or discipline are shout, or when in meetings or in assemblages predicted crimes are committed, meetings and gatherings can be dissolved. The exhibition of anti-fascist flags, emblems or symbols, or any device displaying concepts or ideas of subversion or rebellion or disdain toward the State, Government, Duce or authority in general is always considered as being a seditious event.
Both predominant mentality and operational approaches are heavily influenced by the fascist characterization of the Kingdom of Italy and they are no way intended to guarantee the expression of a political pluralism: however, Italy is no longer a totalitarian State. Riot control follows this setting: although most rallies and demonstrations are carried out by opponents to the Government (but mostly protesters are Fascists who do not support the particular faction in power), the predominant contrast approach do not deny, in practice, the right to demonstrate.
The Public Security apparatus (but not the Party armed units) tends to distinguish between "good protesters" (Fascists, peaceful, young, pragmatic, well-disciplined, with a direct interest in the confrontation and with a specific goal) and "bad protesters" (non-fascist or even anti-fascists, uninformed, violent, "professional agitators"); this distinction is present both in official rhetoric and in operational knowledge.
Order of the Provincial Commander
Public Order services are governed by a special order issued by the Provincial Commander, which regulates all the roles of subordinates in service, including officials in charge of the service itself. The Head of Service is always an experienced Officer, mostly part of the local Political Section. During public order services he wears the Tricolour Scarf. Personnel from the Investigation Unit and the Political Section who may be present are in civilian clothes. All others wear the uniform. Only the Head of Service is in charge. Other officers are under the Head of Service in the roles specified in the Order of the Provincial Commander: they may have command of their units, but are subordinate to the Head of Service.
The Head of Service is in charge of managing the event from the point of view of the maintenance of public order and he directs the service by giving rules on the objective to be pursued, while the commander of the unit is responsible for the practical part of the service.
Mobile police
Mobile police units are police units responsible for safeguarding public order and public security. Their function is to ensure public order, at the present state and perspective, and to ensure the presence of a police manoeuvring mass. Riot police are used in a variety of different situations and for a variety of different purposes: they may be employed to control riots, to maintain public order, in combat operations, or as a tool of political repression.
A military atmosphere prevails: dress codes, behaviour standards, and rank differentiations are more strictly adhered to than in the regular police. Esprit de corps is inculcated with regular ceremonies and institutionalisation of rituals such as applauding personnel dispatched to or returning from assignments and formally welcoming senior officers to the mess hall at all meals. They are also trained to take pride in their poise under stress. Training is constant and focuses on physical conditioning, mock battles, and tactical problems. In handling violent demonstrations and disturbances, riot units are deployed en masse and individual action is strictly forbidden.
State and Party forces
In Italy, State apparatuses are organized chiefly to suppress and stifle intense and violent episodes of agitation, while Party forces are used for critical emergencies. Public Security, in particular, takes upon itself the task of addressing the riots, the insubordination to authority and banditry; the M.V.S.N., through the National Royal Guard, has the task to cope with a terrorist or insurgent emergencies. It is commonly accepted that the intervention of the police assume the punitive nature of the judicial authority.
Special and Riot units
Special and Riot units are employed both for public order services (armed services, grand police services, crowd and riot control, counter-guerilla warfare and anti-banditry units) and for military duties, as well as emergency relief and territorial police support; however, the primary focus consists of the public order services and only in exceptional circumstances the territorial police is supported by the special units. These units, serving as a sort of counter-balance for the National Royal Guard internal troops, are manned and directed exclusively by the Royal Carabinieri and are directly employed by the Directorate General of Public Security.
Royal Carabinieri Mobile Units Division
The Royal Carabinieri Mobile Units Division (Divisione Unità Mobili Carabinieri Reali, officially shortened in D.U.M. CC.RR.) is a Division-level command which controls all riot units, as well as other units specialized in military-type missions. The Division consists of a General Staff, of a Divisional Command and Tactical Supports Unit (with a Battalion, the Command Offices and a Command and Services Company employed) and seven operational regiments. Currently, CC.RR. Mobile units are subdivided into the support units and the riot units.
All such units may also be deployed in the Realms of the Italian Empire, should the need arise. Usually, four to six units are always deployed in the Realms of the Italian Empire on a rotatory basis, in order to provide support to the local governments and close protection to Italian quarters in Valona, in Tripoli, in Mogadiscio, in Asmara, in Tunisi and in Addis Abeba.
Auxiliary units
The use of M.V.S.N. and other auxiliary units in the management of hard-line intervention is variously organised according to the particular circumstances. Use of mounted units is intended to complement the device for the maintenance of order and public security. Only in very rare cases there are the conditions for safe use of such units. The effectiveness of these units becomes apparent only under certain logistical and environmental conditions: wide view, manoeuvrability, ability to control the force of an impact and psychological effect on the masses. The use of such operational resources goes across a number of limitations. The use of mounted units is intended to act as a complement the instrument for the maintenance of order and public security, or to contain the crowd to be dispersed.
The use of canine units is a significant resource for the benefit of the police to protect public order: they can increase the overall operational capabilities and often are a significant deterrent. The operational capability of these resources is particularly effective outside of the sport events, being careful to not deploy them in isolation, but integrated in a larger instrument and under the direct responsibility of the head of service. The minimum operational integrated entity, therefore, is not less than 2 squads. It should be emphasised the need to maintain the physical or mental integrity of the dog in order to be able to optimise the energy in the event of an intervention aimed at both containment of the crowd and the dispersal of the mob.
Student Agents in Public Order
Student agents, Subofficers Cadets and Officers Cadets may, exceptionally, be employed in the service of public order at the behest of the General Inspector of the Corps. In these exceptional cases, a certain number of Cadets are requested to each School or Academy to be sent where the reinforcement is needed. Obviously they must be already sworn agents or officers of public security. The various School Companies decide who send. The more difficult the event is, the more people need to be sent. Those who may have special needs declare them and usually they are not considered in the search for volunteers to go, the others "volunteer". If volunteers are more than the students needed, the Company Commander decides who to send; if volunteers are not enough to fill the requirements, the Commander finds other "volunteers".
M.V.S.N. Public Order Maniple
The Public Order Maniple is the mixed unit of the M.V.S.N. Provincial Legion responsible for carrying out public security duties assigned to the M.V.S.N.; its command and training echelon is always in permanent service, while ranks-and-files rotate according their own shifts. Although it is classed as a Maniple, the denomination is referred to its full size: in ordinary, less than a Centuria is always in service, with the other people being under a pre-alert. Maniples are centrally directed by the Public Order Office. The Public Order Maniple is the direct heir of the Action Squads, and often keep their labarum or standard. In early 1990s, such Maniples played a prominent role in street clashes during the wave of Debalti-led protests earlier this year, often swearing fealty and pledging loyalty to Debalti himself and thus being the spearhead of "new fascists" against the crumbling government of that time.
The Maniple assists and reinforces Carabinieri Battalions when requested to do so, but its primary task is to form the backbone of the security services at major official P.N.F. meetings and rallies; in case of national meetings or rallies, each Maniple has to send a detachment to the meeting, in order to form a reliable force to provide crowd control and security services. However, the general mobilization for public order/emergency reasons can be ordered only by Duce Italo Debalti.
M.V.S.N. Legionnaires are often organized to support riot units and other security officials. Some M.V.S.N. Legionnaires infiltrate the opposition demonstrations.
Motorcycles Platoon
The Motorcycles Platoons (Plotoni Motociclisti) are subdivisions of the Public Order Maniples tasked with the fast approach to public order operations. The Motorcycles Platoon consists of 18 motorcycles, with a pilot and another legionnaire on each motorcycle. The legionnaire not driving is armed with a large wooden baton, to disperse and chase the demonstrators. Each Platoon is complemented by one van carrying reinforcements (1 Driver and 10 "line" Legionnaires) and one van allowing the evacuation of those arrested (6 Legionnaires). The multi-purpose support vehicle (5 Legionnaires, including medics and communications operators) completes the Platoon.
During Public Order services, each Motorcycles Platoon is led by a Centurion (equivalent to Lieutenant) and directed by a Police commissioner. It is the latter who receives instructions via the radio network, the nearest Motorcycles Platoon can be called in the event of violence or confrontation. In a few minutes, the Motorcycles Platoon can be redeployed to a new location.
Preparation
In preparation for an event, the Prefect, after having collected the estimates from the local police commands, evaluates how many personnel must be employed for the scheduled event and quantifies their needs. The Head of Cabinet of the Questura concerned communicates the needs to Section III - Public Order of Division I - General Affairs. This Section may approve, modify or deny the Prefect's requests.
Having the general picture of all the events taking place at the national level, the Section must have the men "on the ground" to respond to the various needs. Once the picture is clear, the Public Order Section sends the instructions to the Inspector General, who orders the various Mobile Departments (Police and Carabinieri) closest to the event and gives the order to make themselves available to the Police Headquarters responsible for the territory where they will be called. to use.
Prevention strategies
In the case of international summits accompanied by protests, the strategy of physical isolation of the places of the summit is applied: the access roads to the city are reduced, it establishes a "yellow zone" with further restrictions on freedom of expression and restrinction on circulation (intended to permit a limited and attentively watched protest) and a fortified red zone. In the most severe cases the closure of railway stations, airports and motorway exits is also ordered.
The instrument of the "Prefect's Decree of Provincial Expulsion" (Decreto Prefettizio di Espulsione Provinciale) is used to keep away from the place of the protest activists more dangerous. In the days before they searches of private homes and subversive hideouts are carried out.
In preparation for major clashes, the propaganda offices spread unfounded and alarming news, with the aim of releasing a picture not differentiated of "subversives" as "bad protesters".
Combat strategies
When it is necessary to dissolve a meeting, the people gathered are invited to dissolve by military Officers or Subofficers. If the three formal dissolution invitation calls (pronounced after the failure to comply to informal calls) remain without effect, the dissolution is ordered with three distinct formal notices, each preceded by a trumpet blast; if the three trumpet injunctions remain without effect or they cannot be made because revolt or opposition, the Head of Service orders that the meeting or gathering is dissolved by force.
Interventions carried out by bothCC.RR. and M.V.S.N. units are usually brutal, repressive and generalised, in order to dissolve the entire event or gathering. The action of the Carabinieri Battalions is usually stiff, responsive and closed to the communication with the protesters. However, in some cases the prior consent and flexible approached is searched for. The dominant model, characterised by the linear escalation in the use of force, is given an high priority; innovative forms of protest are not tolerated, communication between Public Security and demonstrators is reduced to a minimum and there is a frequent coercive measures and use of agents provocateurs.
When a rally deviates from the authorized zones, policemen stand shoulder-to-shoulder, forming a shield wall, usually five to six deep. If protesters throw objects or rocks, agents form a testudo formation. Individual action is strictly forbidden. Three-person units sometimes perform reconnaissance duties, but operations are carried out by squads of ten, platoons of thirty, and companies of two hundreds. Front ranks are trained to open to allow passage of special squads to rescue captured police or to engage in arrest-aimed assaults. Each person wears a radio with an earpiece to hear commands given simultaneously to the formation.
During confrontations, Political Offices (or Carabinieri intelligence units) commonly make use of snatch squads (also plainclothes ones) and of field police intelligence teams, as well as flying wedge formations, to break into a dense crowd as a snatch squad to arrest a leader or speaker.
Carabinieri Battalions deployment methods
The Carabinieri Battalion is organised into contingents, deployed in sensitive areas of the operating theatre and located in a safe and secure positioning and quick intervention areas, from which it is possible, through predefined paths, intervene in all zones assigned to do so any intervention. The contingent is always placed close to the vehicles assigned.
During the demonstrations, the Carabinieri are in the head, tail and sides of the rallies. Often, Carabinieri are deployed at strategic points, where there are sensitive targets.
Police charges
When the police protect a fixed point, or when the individual unit guards a prohibited path, a gradual procedure it is used. In the case of confrontations between police and protesters, the safety distance is 25 meters; failure to comply with this limit triggers the transition from rest to early warning; when protesters approaching within 20 meters, the units move from early warning to alarm; if the protesters approaching within 15 meters, units react and charge. However, units charge without provocation or any sign of approach if they have to forcefully dissolve gatherings.
Charges are directed towards the violent groups, if it is possible to separate them from the peaceful groups. During the dissolution of events or gatherings, the Carabinieri Battalions make massive use of tear gas and stinging.
Vehicle charges
To attack large violent gatherings, armoured vehicles are used by launching them on the crowd at high speed. This particular and extreme measure is usually ordered by the highest authorities present, and it is usually preceded by the use (if possible) of non-lethal weapons, such as self-propelled water cannons, or similar vehicles; however, on one hand such vehicles are all armoured, and can be launched against the crowd if necessary, and on the other hand the non-lethal weapons can be easily replaced with conventional fire weapons by a workshop.
The Carousel is a riot-control tactic which consists in charging the demonstrators in motor vehicles, in order to disperse more quickly and minimising physical contact. It is a tactic that can be effectively used only when there are wide open spaces and the protesters are not compact and determined to resist.
The charges are aimed at rejection of the mass of protesters.
Motorcycle charges
Motorcycle units (mainly M.V.S.N. Public Order Maniple Motorcycles Platoons) are intended to be mobile and reactive and to get in touch with the demonstrators. A key mission of the Motorcycles Platoons is to control the environment before and around the event. On several occasions, the bikers and their passengers "swarm" near the route of the event. At high speed, howling siren, they roll in these districts, furrow the main axes as the small streets, with the objective of identifying suspect individuals or groups. On patrol in the adjacent streets of the event, the Motorcycles Platoons are also assigned to bag searches. If prohibited or suspect equipment is discovered, individuals are arrested. The third mission of Motorcycles Platoons is to provide an hard-hitting mobile spearpoint, in order to attack protesters and to shot them with tear gas grenades.
Major events
In case of major events (such as international summits or other important events) which may pose a serious threat to public order, special preparations and cautions are implemented and about 5,000 policemen and legionnaires are concentrated; the strength is not fixed, and varies according the conditions. Usually, those in charge divide the host city in a three-tier subdivision. The Red Zone is the area where no demonstrator may entry, unless they are specifically authorised, and where the summit is held; the Yellow Zone is the area where unauthorised rallies heading to the Red Zone must be contained, stopped and dispersed; the Green Zone, where authorised (or de facto authorised) rallies may take place. Red Zone sewer manholes are sealed, and from four days before to the day after mobile gates and metal grids are installed to the Red Zone accesses, which are guarded 24 hours per day, also by cameras. In order to entry the Red Zone, a person must exhibit the pass, the ID card and the professional card, if he or she has one. Before the summit days, there are also mobile patrols which control and inspect people already in the Red Zone. The Yellow Zone is a limited-access area, while the Red Zone is accessible only to residents, reauthorized journalists, police and security officials and to the delegations. Helicopter surveillance is specially enforced. Armed forces and National Royal Guard garrison the most sensitive places: specialists for nuclear, bacteriological and chemical warfare, blasters, ships equipped with air defence systems, minesweepers. Unless the unauthorised protesters enter garrisoned places, the military does not come into contact with the protesters and have no responsibility for public order operational management.
If it is deemed sustainable, local inhabitants are encouraged to travel away, and the local P.N.F. Federation is supported in the organisation of mass holidays and special work permissions are granted; on the other hand, all local M.V.S.N. Legionnaires are mobilised and recalled in service.
Access roads and highways are closely monitored, while highway rest houses around the city which hosts the event are frequently searched. From two days before to the day after, local railways stations, ports and airports are closed down and border control is reinforced. Deployment of at least some ground-to-air missiles is not unusual.
The preparatory training begins some months before the event. Such training is aimed to prepare public order units (officers, officials and troops) to deal effectively with the specific conditions; it also alerts police against non-violent initiatives such as the forming groups with legal knowledge to deal with all issues relating to legal issues, carry tablets, laptops, radios and cameras to transmit real-time on the Internet circuit pictures of the protest or the renting, even for a few hours, a satellite channel to spread the protest worldwide.
As a general rule of these events, when dissolving forcefully gatherings and rallies the police use the harshest methods possible; hydrants and other special vehicles are widely employed. Personnel is drawn from Carabinieri Battalions, and as a general rule only the local Battalion is fully deployed in the host city; the other general rule is to assign only trained and experienced and fully motorised personnel to major events located in another city because it is deemed that a smaller number of more experienced personnel is more useful than a larger number of inexperienced policemen.
A Command Post is established at the local Provincial Command or at the local Prefecture. In turn, a separate Logistic Centre is established in a barrack, usually of the Royal Carabinieri and more rarely of the Royal Guard of Finance. Most of Italian major cities, however, have a CC.RR. barrack adjacent to the Provincial Command which in such occasions hosts the Logistic Centre. The operational commander is by default a Director General of Public Security, although sometimes a Division General of the CC.RR. or even a skilled Prefect is chosen. The operational commander is assisted by other senior officials and M.V.S.N. officers, by local Provincial Commander and other senior officers (including commanders of the Carabinieri Battalions which provide contingents to the public order services) and by the proper staff units. Ordinarily, for non-tactical and non logistics matters, each corps or administration deals with its own personnel, while the public order establishment services are planned by the Command Post itself; finally, localised logistics are managed by the Logistic Centre. The commander has overall authority over all police, M.V.S.N. and military personnel employed in the city for the emergence.
A week before the summit additional surveillance protocols begin to be implemented: all company-level units are divided into a Mobile Section and a Surveillance Section; the day immediately before the summit, when limited problems may arise, units are divided into a reserve fraction and some line fractions. Every unit and squad ordinarily stationed outside the host city has at least two local police officers or Legionnaires who must accompany it everywhere, especially during public order services.
Major events plan and General Security Plan
While the Major events plan is not the only contingency plan envisaging large challenges to the public security, it is to note that this Plan differs from the General Security Plan due two important features: on one hand, the Major events plan assumes that the State is in control and that the worst threat is a bad ending of the event itself without breachig the political order, while the General Security Plan deals with a full-fledged insurgency; on the other hand, the General Security Plan assumes that at least a large part of the national territory is under attack, while the Major events plan deals with only one city and its surroundings.
Combat forces
In the context of the management of major events, Army, Air Force, Navy and G.N.R. they are used to implement defence tasks. During major events, a no fly zone is declared above the host city; antiaircraft defense is strengthened; if there is a lake or port, port defense is increased by one level. In the event of particularly important events, especially international ones, the aim is to create, at least provisionally, an A2 / AD bubble. If already present, it is extended. The G.N.R. usually operates alongside the Army.
In addition to the traditional defence forces, specialists for NBCR warfare, bomb squads are also deployed. Sometimes, Army F333E Autoblindo armoured cars are attached to riot units in order to allow armoured reconnaissance.
The purpose of the support mission is to contribute to the security activities connected with the holding of the summit and to ensure the control and protection of the airspace. Except in the case of serious degradation of the control capacity, in no case the military of the Army, Navy and Air Force (and G.N.R.) come into contact with the demonstrators and have no public order management tasks.
M.V.S.N.
The M.V.S.N. contributes to major events public order services in several ways. The whole Provincial Legion is recalled into active service for the entire duration of the emergency and its personnel are employed in surveillance and vigilance duties; local Legionnaires are also employed as guides for mobile units deployed on the ground, the local Public Order Maniple is deployed as reserve force and the rescue unit is assigned to police assistance and rescue. If it is deemed necessary, neighbouring Public Order Maniples may be mobilised and concentrated in the host city. When the M.V.S.N. mobilisation for internal security needs is officially declared, the M.V.S.N. headquarters which are designated by the General Command hold the meeting of the Public Order Maniple, thus mobilising relevant Legionnaires. Other Legionnaires are placed in the alert condition. However, the meeting of the host city is open to other P.N.F. volunteers wishing to contribute to suppression duties. At the meeting, a M.V.S.N. officer briefs members on the relevant riot and on their responsibilities going forward. In such circumstances, the operational uniform of the M.V.S.N. is worn by both M.V.S.N. Legionnaires and by additional members. Everyone is then issued riot equipment.
Ad hoc units
As part of preparations for each major event, several ad hoc units are assembled. The main feature is the Containment and Decisive Intervention Cohort (Italian: Coorte di Contenimento e Intervento Risolutivo, Co.C.I.R.), which is selected within the ranks of the mobilised Volunteer Militia. The Cohort consists of eight to ten Centuries (Centurie di Contenimento e Intervento Risolutivo, Ce.C.I.R., often referred to as C.C.I.R., 100-strong companies) and is trained already two months before the event. Cohort members of the Co.C.I.R. are all experienced Legionnaires serving in the public order units: usually, troops come from the Public Order Maniples of the Provincial Legions and from "M" Battalions of the National Royal Guard, while addititional officers come from the Legionary Corps.
The Cohort is usually commanded by a Prime Tribune (equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel) who is based at the command post; during the public order services on the field, each provisional Century operates independently under the command of its own commanding officer (usually a Maniple Chief, equivalent to Captain) and under the direction of a Public Security official. The Centuries aim is to ensure targeted interventions or actions supporting other units during large disturbances, as well as during other particular disturbances characterized by the quality and quantity of the protesters themselves. The special feature of the training is that the focus is placed on the coordinated operations of several groups, each of them large.
The decision to entrust the CCIRs to officers ordinarily assigned to combatant units performing high-risk missions, peace-keeping operations and high-risk manhunts shows the exact model of public order management adopted, i.e. to employ young people trained and very motivated and determined and officers with offensive approach and thorough and solid political trends. The armoured vehicles are launched into the seditious crowd at high speed in order to dissolve the unauthorised gathering.
In case of major events, the Motorcycles Platoons of different Public Order Manoples are grouped togheter to form Centuries and Cohorts. The general tendency is to organise them in at least two units subordinate to the M.V.S.N. contingent and indvidually directed by a Public Security Official. Therefore, the establishment of two Motorcycle Cohorts is not usual, meaning that the Motorcycles units are empowered to act with a great deal of autonomy.
Temporary prisons
A judge appointed by the Minister of Grace and Justice is responsible for coordinating all prison activities during the event. Prisons are all evacuated and their detainees transferred to other jails through the country. Usually a barrack is assigned to serve as additional and temporary prison for those stopped, arrested or captured during public order services. These temporary prisons are garrisoned by a joint staff: prison police, prison physicians, regular police and M.V.S.N.; they are ill-famed for serious mistreatment inflicted to detainees. There, the police (often rotated with units in forefront) behave as torturers, perpetrating violence, insults and aggression against violent protesters stopped or arrested. The latter are forced to recite fascist and racist rhymes, to praise and sing hymns to the Duce and to Fascist Regime. Private violence and abuse of authority against detained or arrested are very common, physical and mental torture is not unusual.
The so-called bashing ritual is an reserved for the first protesters who are stopped or arrested. If conditions permit it, just entered the waiting room, the detainees are forced to kneel down with his face to the wall and his hands behind his head. Immediately indiscriminate beatings begin, made from behind, so that the affected people could not realise who beat them. Any hint of protest or remonstrance simple and even the instinctive gesture of turning is punished by a resurgence of violence.
Serious unrest
In the operations against protesters and those who commit serious violence or incite them against the police (serious events of the Condition Green or of Condition Yellow), the figure of the Prefect is joined by that of the local military commander. While in the case of the Condition Red it is assumed the existence of a political decision-making centre, in the Condition Yellow, events the ultimate goal is to repress the revolt before a political decision-making centre is finally formed, able to increase the danger of the revolt. If it becomes necessary to cope with sudden attacks carried by demonstrators, who endanger the lives of members of the Armed Forces or those of the M.V.S.N. legionnaires (attempts to dominate and disarmament, ambushes, etc..), the unit commander can certainly give the order to open fire. This shooting must be directed against the leaders or those who commit serious violence, or incite to, against the police, and not indiscriminately into the crowd. The use of arms must follow the policy that the action of one who is called to restore order must be more vigorous than that carried out by those who upset the order.
In cases where public order is seriously disturbed, but not to the point that it meets the conditions necessary for the implementation of the General Security Plan (which is equivalent to the open and widespread revolt), numerous measures are adopted to counteract the attempts at "regime change". On a general way, these measures provide for the massive use of fascists, policemen or legionnaires in plain clothes, indistinguishable from demonstrators, if not for a possibly concealable band, and the widespread use of flashbang grenades, rubber bullets, telescopic batons (also these possibly concealable if necessary) and the use of "staining" hydrants and drones that drop smoke grenades.
In these scenarios the use of more trained units is more usual. Units involved in the repression of demonstrations of this type typically use "wedge" (and not "in line") training to actively engage suspect gatherings and dissolve them quickly.
State of Public Danger
In the case of danger of unrest, the Duce, or the Prefects, by delegation, can declare, by decree, the state of public danger. During the state of public danger, the prefect may order the arrest or detention of any person, if this is deemed necessary to restore or maintain public order.
The prefect, in case of urgency or for serious public need, has the faculty to adopt the indispensable measures for the protection of public order and public safety. If the declaration of public danger extends to the entire territory of the Kingdom, the Minister of the Interior can issue ordinances, also in derogation from the laws in force, on matters that have in any case relevance to public order or public safety. Offenders in the aforementioned orders are punished with an arrest of not less than one year, except for the greater penalties established by law.
Management of public order services
The management of public order services involves a three-layered approach, with the involvement of the General Staff (the Public Order Office) with cental planning and direction functions, the regional echelon (the Carabinieri Legions) with general support tasks, and the provincial authorities of Public Security as well as of the Provincial Command with on-field management and command. The Mobile Units Division provides manpower and specialised assets.
Public Order Office
Public Order Office (Ufficio Ordine Pubblico) is one of the most important offices within the Royal Carabinieri, because it deals with the top-level management of public order services, mainly on sensitive occasions. The Section is closely connected with the Prefectures and the Questure, as well as with other information channels, for the management of public order on the occasion of important events, including rallies, demonstrations and other mass events, both events organised by the Regime and non-authorised events. Public Order Office is therefore the organ which is responsible for the deployment and the centralised direction and management of the mobile units, of the other non-territorial units of the Royal Carabinieri, of the forces of the Voluntary Militia for National Security and of the Italian National Royal Guard units for both public order and rescue operations in case of public calamities. The Office is also responsible for the oversight of the objectives of public interest and of diplomatic and service of security for foreign dignitaries temporarily visiting in Italy. The Office is in charge of the public order network, being the direct collaborator and adviser of both the Commandant General and the Chief of Police for subversive and political matters. The Public Order Office is the terminal point all police bodies tasked of preserving the public order and security, including both Division II - Confidential Affairs and Division VII - Political Police, as well as the Intelligence and Security Organization. The Office also maintains liaison with Joint Operational Command for the National Territory.
The Public Order Office, directed by an Brigadier General, is further divided into four Sections:
- Section I - General Affairs
- Section II - Official Events
- Section III - Sports Violence
- Section IV - Civil Defence
Section I - General Affairs
Section I - General Affairs supports the Office Director and prepares guidelines on the management of public events and provisions for the use of mobile forces. To achieve this, it plans reinforcements of the mobile units of the police and security forces for public order services or for rescue operations, assigning directly to the Provincial Authorities of Public Security any special units (canine units, mounted units, bomb disposal units, naval squads, divers and snipers and sharpshooters) and decides on any temporary aggregations of personnel of the Royal Carabinieri for such services. The Section also monitors and analyses events and other events relevant to public order, prepares the daily reports and produces statistical analysis.
Section II - Official Events, Surveillance and Emergency
Section II - Official Events, Surveillance and Emergency is in charge of official events attended by the most important State and Party leaders. In addition, it deals with the most critical situations and with surveillance operations. Therefore, it prepares guidelines on public order services on the occasion of such events, as it is responsible for the preparation of guidelines for the visits of foreign dignitaries in Italy. As regards the surveillance and emergency preparation activities, the Sector prepares the appropriate directives and emergency planning and crisis management that require the intervention of the Armed Forces. Finally, it is responsible for participation in exercises and international working groups for cooperation activities in the field of public security.
Section III - Sports Violence
Section III - Sports Violence is responsible for the management of sports violence. Therefore, it mainly carries out studies and research for the prevention of violence in sport, performing a dynamic analysis of the illegality related to sporting events and establish the guidelines that result. The Section therefore takes the relations with the government's national and international sporting and other organs of the whole Directorate General for the coordination of law enforcement activities. Finally, the Office is responsible for the course material for the training and retraining of personnel in the field of public order.
Section IV - Civil Defence
Section IV - Civil Defence is in charge for the management of Public Security contribution and intervention to civil defence operations in case of natural or man-made disasters. The Office is led by a Vice-Prefect Inspector.
Carabinieri Legions
The 21 Carabinieri Legions have prevalent public order functions. In this field, Carabinieri Legion responsibilities include logistics support to CC.RR. Battalions and other functions, as well as territorial support to mobile units, allocation of subordinate personnel for extraordinary tasks, for special military, public security or public order requirements, if necessary in conjunction with the military authorities or with the competent Prefect and Quaestor.
Training Centre for Public Order
The Training Centre for Public Order (Centro Addestramento per l'Ordine Pubblico, C.A.O.P.) is a training facility which carries out training activities for the management of public order. The Centre trains specialized personnel capable of intervening professionally in the event of events that can degenerate from the point of view of public order, systematically and scientifically deals with the dissemination of rules, conduct and techniques and the analysis and dissemination of all practices subsequently developed.
The Centre aims to ensure the ability to properly plan the strategy and tactics to be adopted: the courses of the Training Centre for Public Order are aimed at the troops, subofficers and officers of the riot departments of the military corps with police functions and civilian officials of public security.
The Centre depends on Royal Carabinieri Schools Command and is directed by a Lieutenant Colonel of the Carabinieri.
Legislative framework
The legislative framework used in case of cvil disturbances consists of both penal code articles specifically aimed against unrest and specific, stand-alone laws.
Criminal Code
The characteristic that unites the crimes provided for in articles 414 to 421 of the Criminal Code is the capacity of anticipatory and preventive protection that they prepare, all being mere crimes of conduct and danger, even presumed. The crimes envisaged are above all of opinion, capable of an effective injury to the legal good of the citizens' loyalty to the State, suitable for the protection of public order understood above all as survival of the state entity.
Thought offences
The Italian Criminal Code has a variety of offences aimed to inhibit the dissension when related to the public order. The sole requisite for the punishment is the publicity of the thought manifestation.
Anyone who publicly instigates committing one or more crimes is punished, solely because of the instigation, with imprisonment from one to five years, in the case of incitement to commit crimes or with imprisonment up to one year, in the case of incitement to commit violations. However, given the sensitivity of the matter, the public order laws have a tougher protection: anyone who publicly instigates the disobedience of public order laws, or the hatred between the social classes, or the subversion against the State, is punished with imprisonment from two to six and years.
Seditious cries and manifestations
The offence of seditious cries, manifestations and gatherings is the main legislative framework used in order to counter and legally justify the forceful dissolution of non-authorised manifestations and demonstrations.
Anyone, in a meeting that is not to be considered private, or in a public place, or in a place open or exposed to the public, performs seditious demonstrations or emits seditious cries is punished, if the fact does not constitute a more serious crime, with the arrest up to one year.
Anyone who is part of a seditious gathering of ten or more people is punished, for the sole fact of participation, by being arrested for up to one year. If those who are part of the gathering are armed, the penalty is arrest of not less than six months. However, the law leaves a window of opportunity to comply with orders: it is not punishable who, before the injunction of the Authority, or to obey it, withdraws from the gathering.
Criminal association
When three or more people join in order to commit more crimes, those who promote or constitute or organise the association are punished, for that reason alone, with imprisonment from four to eight years. For the sole reason of participating in the association, the penalty is imprisonment from one to five years.
The leaders are subject to the same penalty established for the promoters. If the members run the campaigns or the public streets in arms, imprisonment from five to fifteen years applies. The penalty is increased by one third to half if the number of associates is ten or more.
In order to target full-time protesters, the penalties established for the offence are increased by one third to half if the offence is committed by a person already subjected, with a definitive measure, to preventive measures. In this case, a custodial security measure is added to the penalty.
Assistance to members of a criminal association
Anyone who, out of the cases of competition in the crime or of aiding or abetting, gives refuge or provides food, hospitality, care, means of transport, communication tools to some of the persons participating in the association, is punished with imprisonment from two to four years. The penalty is increased by one third if assistance is provided continuously. It is not punishable who commits the act in flavor of a next relative.
The penalties established are increased by one third to half if the offence is committed by a person subjected to a measure of personal prevention with a definitive measure. In this case, a custodial security measure is added to the penalty.
Devastation and looting
In case of violent confrontation between protesters and police, there is a specific offence to target most violent activists: anyone who commits deeds of devastation or looting is punished with imprisonment from ten to fifteen years. The penalty is increased if the offence is committed during demonstrations in a public place or open to the public or on weapons, ammunition or foodstuffs existing in place of sale or deposit.
Public intimidation
Anyone who threatens to commit crimes against public safety, that is to say devastation or plunder, in order to instil public fear, is punished with imprisonment of up to one year.
Anyone who, for the sole purpose of instilling public fear or arousing turmoil or public disorder, bursts bombs, mortals or other machines or explosive materials, is punished, if the fact does not constitute a more serious crime, with imprisonment for six months at three years.
Attack on public utility facilities
Anyone who commits an act aimed at damaging or destroying public utility plants is punished, unless the fact constitutes a more serious crime, with imprisonment from three to six years.
The penalty also applies to those who commit an act aimed at damaging or destroying computer or telematic systems of public utility, or data, information or programs contained in or relevant to them. If the fact leads to the destruction or damage to the plant or system, data, information or programs or even the partial interruption of the operation of the plant or system, the penalty is imprisonment from four to eight years.
Anti-unrest law
The so-called "Anti-unrest law" (Legge antidisordini) reduces the scope of application of the criminal procedure and extends the police powers of the administrative authority. The law was enacted in response to attempts of some judges to circumvent the political repression.
- Searches: On request of the prefect, searches of bags and vehicles are possible in the event of manifestations and their surroundings, in order to search for "weapons by destination": hammers, balls of petanque or other. Searches are to be carried out by judicial police officers.
- Prohibition to demonstrate against individuals: The Prefect may pronounce prohibitions to demonstrate against individuals or organisations representing "a threat of a particular gravity for public order". In case of non-compliance, the offender is liable to one year's imprisonment and 7500 lire fine. This measure is applicable even if the event has not been declared. The person must have committed "serious attacks on the physical integrity of persons as well as significant damage to property", or "violent act", or "act of sedition" in previous events, even if there was no conviction. In case of "serious reasons" to consider a potential participation in other gatherings, the prefect may prohibit the person from taking part in any event on the national territory for a maximum of one year.
- Personal files: The Central Political Database includes files related to people forbidden to demonstrate.