Preventing Incidents on Football Match Days: ‘The Policeman is Another Friend of Yours’ Project Kicks Off

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Rome, Italy: The Italian Ministry of Public Education, in collaboration with the Italian Committee for UNICEF, has launched the “The Policeman is Another Friend of Yours” project to prevent incidents and promote social solidarity among elementary school children.

Aims of the Initiative

• Spread the culture of legality and social responsibility among young people
• Focus on prevention and education
• Promote social stability by involving all public and private actors in making every territory a safer place

Technology Enhancements for Prevention

• Online desk for reporting thefts, losses, and computer crimes created by National Police and Carabinieri Corps
• Interconnection of control rooms across police forces
• Video-surveillance systems installed in sensitive urban areas
• Implementation of state-of-the-art communication and visualization technology to reduce the risk of criminal attacks

Involvement of Football Fan Teams

• Providing protection for those who want to dissociate from violent acts
• Finding the reasons motivating violent minorities and activating judicial police services if necessary

National Operational Programme “Security for the Development of Italy’s Mezzogiorno”

• Combines technology enhancements, personnel training, and civil society involvement to combat social disruption, marginalization, and deviancy in Southern Italy

Urban Security Memoranda and Agreements

• Implemented by local bodies and the Ministry of the Interior to define security standards and promote initiatives guaranteeing appropriate security conditions
• Covers productive areas, entrepreneurial activities, and balanced economies

“Security Agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the National Association of Italian Municipalities”

• Signed in March 2007, involving all Italian municipalities to implement shared projects fostering subsidiarity between state and local governments

Prevention of Sexual Violence in Urban Areas

• Synergic action from territorial bodies supported through general prevention measures such as:
  • Lighting enhancements
  • Video-camera surveillance networks
  • Street furniture interventions
  • Introduction of “social caretakers” in housing estates

Assistance for Victims of Intra- and Extra-Familial Violence

• “Antiviolence Network among Urban Italy Cities” project implemented
• “Arianna Project”, a national telephone line (1522) to combat violence against women, providing support, protection, and assistance to victims