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Italian public security is provided by five separate '' ( Military police), '' Guardia Di Finanza '' (financial and customs police, also organized as a military force), '' Polizia Di Stato '' (state police), '' Polizia Penitenziaria '' (penitentiary police) and '' Corpo Forestale Dello Stato '' (forestry police). In addition to these, some provinces also operate a local form of police called '' Polizia Provinciale '' (Provincial Police) and all city councils have their local '' Polizia Municipale '' (Municipal Police) although their responsibilities are mostly traffic control and enforcement of local city or regional law. The Lombardy Region was the first region in Italy to create a ''Polizia Locale''. Guardia Costiera provides law enforcement for environmental and other crimes in the sea areas. They are armed and have the right to arrest. Because of overlapping responsibilities, Italians are often confused about which division they should call if they see a crime, and it is not rare to see the police forces compete against each other. Police forces are not permitted to enter the Italian Parliament unless out of session and the Speaker has given his or her consent. ARMA DEI CARABINIERI in Florence ]] See Also: Carabinieri The '' Carabinieri '' is the common name for the ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', a '' Gendarmerie ''-like military corps with police duties. They also serve as the Italian Military Police . The ''Carabinieri'' recently became a separate armed force (alongside the Army , Navy and Air Force ), thus ending their long standing tradition as the First Corps (''Arma'') of the Italian Army (''Esercito''). They are referred to as the ''Arma'' or ''La Benemerita'' (The Meritorious Corps), and are unrivalled in popular affection and national pride, although they are often subjects of jokes about their intelligence, because requirements to be a ''Carabiniere'' used to be very low (elementary-school level). Though the requirements are now higher, the stereotype persists. In recent years ''Carabinieri'' units have been dispatched all over the world in peacekeeping missions, including Kosovo , Afghanistan and Iraq . In 2004, twelve ''Carabinieri'' were killed in a suicide bomb attack on their base in Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq . This was Italy's largest military loss in a single action since World War II . Previously, only men were allowed to become part of the '' Arma '' (or any military force, for that matter), but recent military reforms allow women to serve in the Italian military, including Carabinieri . GUARDIA DI FINANZA officers]] See Also: Guardia di Finanza The ''Guardia di Finanza'' is a special Italian police force at the service of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. The Guardia di Finanza is a Military Corps and is an integral part of the Italian Armed Forces as well as of the law enforcement agencies. Its duties primarily involve investigating money-related crimes, such as , the FBI , DEA , U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Customs . The Guardia di Finanza has a naval fleet for the overseeing of territorial waters, and an air force. The special departments of the Guardia di Finanza are:
POLIZIA DI STATO See Also: Polizia di Stato The ''Polizia di Stato'' ( State Police ) is the National Police of Italy. Along with common patrolling, investigative and law enforcement duties, it is responsible for patrolling the Autostrada (Italy's Express Highway network), and overseeing the security of railways, bridges and waterways. It is a civilian police force, while the ''Carabinieri'' are military or paramilitary. While its internal organization and mindset is somewhat military, its personnel is composed totally of civilians. Its headquarters are located in Rome , and there are Regional and Provincial divisions scattered throughout Italian territory. In recent years, a new program called ''Polizia di Quartiere'' was implemented which aimed at increasing police presence and deterring crime. Pairs of ''poliziotti'' (policemen) or ''carabinieri'' patrol specific areas of major cities on foot. Its critics contend that these efforts are ineffective, as the areas with the greatest concentration of crime are being neglected. POLIZIA PENITENZIARIA The '' Polizia Penitenziaria '' (Prison Guards, literally ''Penitentiary Police'') operate the Italian prison system and handle the transportation of inmates. CORPO FORESTALE DELLO STATO Similar to Park Ranger s, the '' Corpo Forestale Dello Stato '' (National Forestry Department)'' controls Italian national parks and forests. Their duties also include fighting poachers, safeguarding protected animal species and preventing forest fires. SPECIAL CORPS official seal]] Some forces have their own special corps, with more specific duties. The most common are listed below, among with a brief description and with their American counterpart, where possible.
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TRANSPORTATION Polizia]] car in Rome .]] Until recently, all Italian police forces were equipped with Italian -made cars. The most famous of them, the Alfa Romeo Giulia , gave the nicknames of the cars still commonly used today. A patrol car belonging to ''Polizia'' is nicknamed ''Pantera'' (Panther), one used by the ''Carabinieri'' is nicknamed ''Gazzella'' (Gazelle) and every unmarked car is called a ''Civetta'' (Owl). Every force has also Helicopters , Trucks and Camper s (used as mobile offices usually in undercover missions). In Venice , which is built across several islands linked by bridges and surrounded by water, public security and fire brigades work with Boats . In 2004, Lamborghini donated a Lamborghini Gallardo Police Car - fully equipped with lights and sirens and capable of travelling at almost 310 km/h - to the state police on the occasion of their 152nd anniversary. This car is used for fast delivery of plasma and organs for transplantation. Normal ''Carabinieri'' patrol vehicles are dark blue with a red stripe along the side. Regular police vehicles have registration plates beginning with the letters "CC", military police vehicles have "EI" plates. The PdS’s vehicles are light blue with a white stripe along the side and the word ''Polizia'' in large letters underneath. The license plates also start with the word ''Polizia'' in red. The GdF’s vehicles are dark blue with a thin gold stripe along each side and the words ''Guardia di Finanza'' in gold underneath. The vehicle plates begin with the letters “GF” in red. The CFS’s vehicles are green with a white stripe and the words ''Corpo Forestale dello Stato'' in white along the side. The vehicle plates begin with the letters “CF” in red. ''Polizia Penitenziaria'' vehicles are dark blue with a light blue stripe along the side and ''Polizia Penitenziaria'' in white letters under the stripe. OTHER POLICE FORCES According to the Cadogan Guide to Sicily, any area in Italy can be under the jurisdiction of up to 31 different police forces. These include the '' Polizia Provinciale '' (Provincial Police) which are small police organisations that belong to the Italian regional administrations. Their main duties are to enforce regional and national Hunting and Fishing laws but have also expanded into Wildlife Management and environmental protection. The forces' vehicles are white with a green stripe along the side. In addition, each community has its own '' Polizia Municipale '' ( Municipal Police ) who deal with petty crime, anti-social behaviour and so on. In some regions of Italy these forces can also be called ''Polizia Urbana'' or ''Polizia locale.'' Furthermore, the Coast Guard ('' Guardia Costiera '') provides law enforcement on the sea and is part of the Italian Navy ('' Marina Militare ''). HISTORICAL SECRET POLICE ORGANIZATIONS
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