The office at Palazzaccio is still bare. Boxes lying around, few personal items in sight. «These are not things I particularly care about. I prefer to stay outside, in the area” he explains the new Security Councilor of the city of Turin, Marco Porcedda. The lieutenant colonel (on leave) took a few weeks to study the most important dossiers and is now ready to start from the nightlife issue.
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Councilor, we parted ways after his appointment with the promise to meet again when he was ready. He studied?
«In this first phase I focused on two tracks: the study of the dossiers and the citizens’ reports».
And what emerged?
«Most of the reports come to us from the northern area of Turin. They tell us about the presence of drug dealers and generalized degradation. It is a problem of decorum but also of perceived safety for citizens.”
Our newspaper recently organized a reportage in Barriera Milano. Despite extraordinary controls, drug dealing is a plague that afflicts the neighborhood. Residents are exasperated and house prices are collapsing: what can be done?
«As regards public safety, the direct contacts in the area are the carabinieri, state police and financial police, coordinated by the prefect and police commissioner».
And can’t the Municipality do anything to make those who live in these areas feel safer?
«We are trying to optimize resources and rationalize the interventions of the municipal police force. Intervening to support the police force with the department most suited to the needs of the moment is an aspect we are working on.”
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The first dossier on your desk?
«Movida».
What do you have in mind?
«We have developed a couple of ideas that we are now starting to structure, both with the municipal police and with the provincial table for public order and safety. In agreement also with the police forces, the idea is to carry out specific interventions that can stem the inconveniences. It is obvious that the nightlife issue must take into consideration a whole series of rights to be respected: that of citizens to rest, but also that of young people and traders”.
We need a point of balance. What could it be?
«It’s not easy to find him. Otherwise, I feel like saying, it would have already been done. This is the first year in which the new Night Government Plan that the administration has approved comes into full operation.”
What does it predict?
«An important part is sound control. At the same time, controls will be implemented by the commercial establishments: the stewards will come into action immediately from the start of the season.”
It is also the first summer with the Murazzi at full capacity.
«Yes, the hope is that with an “enlarged” nightlife area, even the concentrations of people can have a different structure».
Do you have a model in mind to inspire you?
«We want to create the Turin model».
In what sense?
“It was meant as a joke, but it’s true that there are many activities done in Turin that are taken as models internationally.”
For example?
«I am thinking of the management of major events by the municipal police. For the Giro d’Italia we deployed 130 patrols.”
Changing the subject, upon entering the Palazzaccio we couldn’t help but notice some homeless people camped out under the portico. Is there an intervention plan for them (and for everyone else around the city)?
«It is certainly a situation resulting from a complex problem. This is a game that must be played in close contact with the Social Services headed by councilor Jacopo Rosatelli. There is a need to intervene in a synergistic way.”
From the center to the suburbs. You promised more patrols for Mirafiori. It will be possible?
«Mirafiori sud has thus been left without a permanent presence. Almost at the same time, both the command of the traffic police and that of the carabinieri moved. I won’t comment on the force, but as far as we’re concerned we want to ensure that at least one permanent garrison returns to the area.”
A political question. The gesture of placing a soldier within the junta was not well received by a certain wing of the left. On the other hand, his approach, which we can define as moderate, risks disappointing those who expected “an iron fist” on security issues. What do you think?
«Look, as a mindset, I’m used to involving everyone as much as possible. Until today I have always found a huge response. In any case, I am finding extreme availability on the part of almost the entire city council.”
Almost?
«Almost because I haven’t yet managed to get to know and interact with everyone. I also ask them for feedback on the reports they receive from citizens.”
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He is at the center of a judicial investigation. Did the mayor know this when he was appointed?
«These were situations known and analyzed with the mayor. I have broad shoulders. I definitely try to protect my family.”
Did you regret accepting the job?
(smiles) “No because? It’s a new situation for me, but I immediately started studying to be ready.”
Let’s go back to the city’s problems. Our readers report few traffic policemen on the street. “They only issue fines” a lady recently wrote to us.
«Not all of the municipal police force is on the streets. There are a lot of administrative tasks. And then not all those who are on the streets carry out service in uniform, with the car with the institute colors. Many departments carry out plain clothes interventions which are not always perceived by the population. The communication from the municipal police will be implemented.”
Did you experience a lack of staff when you took office?
«It was one of the first reconnaissances I did and I must say that I found a reassuring situation. Compared to the rest of the municipal offices, we are talking about very low percentage gaps. The police force has 1,457 people, with 98% attendance. The optimum would be 1,508.”
Every day, in the news, we find cars dismantled to resell the individual pieces. What can be done to prevent this phenomenon?
«As far as we are concerned, a greater presence of traffic police patrols in the area could be useful. I asked the municipal police commander to adapt the body’s activity by projecting it more outwards. The prefect himself is pushing for greater control of the territory. But let’s be clear: it can be an additional tool, it is not aimed at dismantled cars.”
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Turin is experiencing an exceptional season of construction sites and contracts linked to the Pnrr. You have the task of managing the delegations relating to Legality. How is it going?
«We are trying to manage this match in the most integrated way possible. The Municipality has a prepared structure that works tirelessly to ensure that everything works. Then in October the Legality Days return, managed together with the Department of Culture. This year an extra day will be added. From the point of view of legality, we have the greatest hope in the new generations.”
Occupations. A great theme that concerns public housing and more. Has a census of the current situation been carried out?
«We took stock with the prefect and the police commissioner. The evictions deemed most urgent are about to be scheduled. In addition to the intervention itself, it is necessary to carefully plan the relocation of the evicted families.”
And the occupation of Corso Regina 47?
«The management of the Askatasuna file follows different channels from those under my delegation».
What is your position on the Daspo?
«My idea is to mend and include. Then, if it is needed, where and when it is needed, it is a useful tool that will need to be evaluated. There cannot be a yes or no regardless. Each situation must be evaluated on its own.”
A last question. What do you think about the use of the army in sensitive areas of the city?
«If we could make them more elastic from the point of view of movement, we would be able to broaden the range of safety that those devices guarantee. Together with the prefect we are trying to understand how to do it. I am optimistic”.
