Even over the past weekend, like every weekend, the police forces carried out specific protection and control services in the areas of the historic city center, in implementation of the directives of the Minister of the Interior and as agreed in the Committee for the Public Order and Security between the Prefect of Catania and the provincial leaders of the Police Force.
By order of the Police Commissioner of Catania, targeted joint surveillance and public order services have been set up in order to ensure due protection for those who frequent the streets and squares of the “nightlife” area, for the customers of the premises, for the residents and for the owners. of the numerous commercial activities invaded by many visitors especially at the weekend.
The devices were created in the area of Piazza Vincenzo Bellini and surrounding areas by agents of the Catania Police Headquarters and the Traffic Police, by soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza and by patrols of the Local Police, with the operational support of operators of the Scientific Police and reinforcement units of the Mobile Department, coordinated by a PS Officer of the State Police, while crews of the Carabinieri and the Local Police operated in Piazza Federico di Svevia and in the surrounding areas. In both areas, the operators carried out careful observation of people in transit or stationed within the pedestrian areas, in order to prevent excessive, disruptive and otherwise illegal behaviour. Furthermore, during the services, a thorough search of the surrounding squares and streets was carried out, alternating with the creation of various checkpoints.
In the area surrounding Piazza Bellini, the crews of the State Police and the Financial Police were deployed in order to avoid access to the pedestrian area from the side streets, especially by motorcycles, but also to monitor the conduct of customers, in order to prevent and combat widespread illegal phenomena, such as drug dealing or alcohol abuse among young people. Furthermore, particular attention was paid to Via San Giuliano, from where one enters Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, where the constant presence of the inter-force personnel employed prevented the frequent phenomenon of wild parking in double rows, thus favoring regular vehicular transit in the area.
During these services, 114 people were identified, 12 of which with criminal records, 47 vehicles were checked and 9 infringements of the CDS were reported by the Traffic Police and the Local Police for failure to inspect the vehicle and prohibited parking on Via Sangiuliano. , with the suspension of three vehicles from road traffic.
Furthermore, during the observation activities in Piazza V. Bellini, State Police officers noticed in the distance the beginning of a fight between two groups of young people who were threateningly facing each other. The timely intervention of the operators put the boys to flight, who disappeared into the nearby streets
In the area of the San Cristoforo district, Castello Ursino, Piazza Federico di Svevia, Via Vittorio Emanuele, the action of the Carabinieri soldiers, with the use of 3 patrols, was mainly aimed at combating drug dealing among young people and of predatory crimes.
Specifically, 21 people were checked, including nightlife users and road users, and 14 vehicles and 11 infringements of the Highway Code were also reported, imposing fines for a total amount of €600.00, especially for parking restrictions. and parking on pedestrian crossings, against motorists who had parked their cars illegally in front of the Ursino Castle, thus preventing the phenomenon of “wild parking” in those areas, in favor of urban decorum and the usability of common spaces by of citizens and tourists.
Furthermore, 6 checks were carried out to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol, with the use of a breathalyser, following which no driver was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, 6 personal searches were carried out among young people to search for drugs and precisely as part of the fight against drug dealing in the “nightlife” areas, in Piazza Federico di Svevia, the Carabinieri of the Piazza Dante station stopped a 25-year-old local man, found in possession of drugs and an improper weapon. In particular, the military checked the young man, who was parked inside his car in front of the main entrance of Castello Ursino, recovering well hidden inside the passenger compartment, about a pound of hashish, 2 doses of marijuana and a bat 60 cm aluminum baseball cap. The young man was therefore arrested.
Thanks to the dynamic preventive activity implemented in the areas of interest and the measures implemented, no critical issues were recorded in the nightlife.
