Italian authorities have intensified efforts to improve security in the capital by inaugurating a modern police station at Termini station. Simultaneously, the Ministry of the Interior signed an agreement with the Lazio region, under which properties previously illegally occupied will be handed over to law enforcement personnel. These actions coincide with alarming reports of staffing shortages in the Carabinieri and controversies surrounding court rulings regarding the Sea Watch organization.

New Station at Termini

The opening of the Polmetro base in the heart of Rome's transport hub aims to improve response speed and increase the visibility of patrols among thousands of passengers.

Ater Properties for Services

A pilot program in Lazio transfers properties reclaimed from illegal occupation to officers, which is intended to revitalize dangerous areas.

Carabinieri Staffing Crisis

The Carabinieri are short of over 10,000 uniformed personnel, which, according to the command, significantly impacts the operational capabilities of the force nationwide.

A new headquarters for Polmetro was opened at the key Termini station in Rome. The ceremony was attended by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who emphasized the importance of police presence at points with the highest traffic flow. Since 2025, this unit has identified over 36,000 individuals and made 78 arrests. Passenger safety is supported by a system of 5,000 surveillance cameras managed by the transport operator Atac. The preventive action plan is set to be expanded in the future to more distant metro stations to provide citizens with a point of reference in emergency situations. Concurrently, the Ministry of the Interior and the Lazio Region reached an agreement regarding housing managed by Ater. Properties reclaimed from illegal occupants will be converted into service apartments for law enforcement officers. The pilot project aims not only to provide social support for uniformed personnel but also to enhance the sense of security in Rome's peripheral districts through the physical presence of law enforcement in local buildings. Italian law enforcement agencies have been grappling for years with issues of budgetary and staffing shortages, a result of austerity policies implemented after the 2008 financial crisis, which slowed the generational turnover in public administration. Despite these investments, the staffing situation in Italian services remains difficult. Comandante Generale of the Carabinieri, Salvatore Luongo, reported a shortage of nearly 10,200 officers, representing approximately 8.5% of the legally mandated strength. Minister Piantedosi acknowledged that this problem has persisted for decades. Furthermore, the Interior Minister announced an appeal against rulings concerning the Sea Watch organization, defending the government's migration policy and pointing to a decrease in the number of illegal arrivals to Italy. In the context of the investigation into events in Milan's Rogoredo district, the minister assured full transparency of police actions, declaring that the services would not show any leniency towards potential irregularities within their own ranks.

Mentioned People

  • Matteo Piantedosi — Italian Minister of the Interior, participant in the inauguration of the Polmetro base.
  • Salvatore Luongo — Comandante Generale of the Carabinieri, raising alarms about staffing shortages.
  • Roberto Gualtieri — Mayor of Rome present during official ceremonies.