REGGIO CALABRIA «As of 31 December 2023, the overall staffing shortages of the State Police amounted to 10,271 units, equal to 9% of the staffing required by law, resulting from the difference between an staffing of 109,408 units and an effective force of 99,137 units . These are official data from the Department of Public Safety, ua situation which in our province sees growing percentages of staff shortages for many police offices in 2024 due to the lack of a suitable number of new officers assigned and many pensioners. Suffice it to say that with the next transfers scheduled for the summer, only 35 policemen belonging to the roles of agents and assistants will arrive here”. Thus, in a note, Francesco FlachiProvincial Secretary of Silp Cgil of Reggio Calabria. «Our territory – explains the Secretary of the Silp Cgil – has long suffered from significant organic deficiencies which affect the departments of the Police Headquarters and the Specialties of the State Police, all those security measures which guarantee the control of the territory and the prevention of crimes”.
«Lack of attention from the Government»
«The phenomenon of staff shortages, which also affects other police forces – explains the trade unionist -, comes together to the high average age that exceeds 50 years and critical issues related to structures and means. The Government in office, beyond the slogans, has shown little attention to the safety sector: zero extraordinary hirings, zero investments, inadequate resources for the renewal of the employment contract that workers in uniform have been waiting for for over 850 days. All this also indicates the organizational and working well-being of staff, which also seems to be of less and less interest to our administration. We appeal to the civil community, to local politics, to the parliamentarians elected in our territory – concludes the head of the CGIL police union – to do their part at all levels to exert pressure on Parliament and the Government. The European elections are turning into another propaganda showcase made of empty promises, with a basic idea that worries us: that of militarizing security, of making it lose its civil and democratic function sanctioned by law 121/81, to focus more on repression than prevention so as to keep the climate of fear and uncertainty high in the country, useful for those who exploit security issues for a handful of votes. A game that we will always oppose, even mobilizing if necessary.”
