From 'billions to buy missiles and tanks' to Strade sicure soldiers, it's a quarrel between the League and Crosetto

The League's position also distances itself from that of Minister Crosetto on the future of 'Strade sicure', the operation launched in 2008 that provides for the deployment of military personnel of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) to support the Police Forces in crime prevention and territorial control tasks. Some 6,800 military personnel are deployed in 58 Italian cities. Strade sicure causes 'stomach aches' that periodically surface among both the police and the armed forces.

Crosetto spoke recently, highlighting the need to increase defence personnel in times when there is no shortage of security challenges. "Law 244," the one that sets the limit on defence personnel at 170,000, Crosetto said, "we must throw it out. The spirit in which it was born is dead. Personnel must be increased. We need 30,000 more for Defence, we should reach 200,000'. And under these conditions, was the minister's reasoning, giving up the 6,800 military personnel of Strade sicure is a luxury that the ministry cannot afford. The position expressed by Crosetto was criticised by the League. "Forget about cutting the 'Strade sicure' military, on the contrary: the contingent on the streets should be increased by at least another thousand units. This is a precious security garrison for the whole Italian territory,' said the League's deputy group leader, Igor Iezzi.

Speaking on Wednesday 12 November during question time at the Chamber of Deputies, Crosetto reiterated his position. "It is necessary," he said, "that the military employed in Safe Streets can with calmness in time, agreeing it with the other ministries, return in perspective to do their work, which is now more indispensable than ever. Precisely in the shared conviction that guarding the streets of stations is increasingly useful and important, we should think about dedicating dedicated, specifically trained professionals to this function, in addition to the existing police force. It is a question of making more efficient a system in which the soldiers do the soldiers and the public security forces do exactly what they are trained to do, bringing them up to the necessary numbers, for example by introducing the figure of the auxiliary carabiniere from the voluntary reserve". For Crosetto, the armed forces 'currently deployed by Strade Sicure could be gradually replaced, always in agreement and harmonising with the other ministries, leaving room for the police forces'. The question to the minister on the increase in the number of military personnel assigned to the 'Strade Sicure' operation at question time was tabled by the League.

The presence of the military of the Italian army on our streets, in support of the law enforcement, is a garrison of security, a bulwark against crime and a guarantee of concrete results. For this reason I have presented, together with my colleagues Carrà and Cecchetti, a resolution in the Defence Committee. We must increase the number of military personnel in the "Safe Streets" contingent to strengthen the presidences in cities, at borders, in railway stations, in sites and sensitive places". The announcement was made by the leader of the League in the Chamber's Defence Committee, Eugenio Zoffili. The note emphasised that the operation uses "soldiers of the forces armed as public security agents, in support of the forces of law and order, to guard territory and cities. At present, 6,000 soldiers operate in 58 provinces on approximately 1,000 sites sensitive, while 800 run "Safe Stations", with functions of deterrence against terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and environmental crimes (such as in the Terra dei fires in Campania)". Hence the League's request: 'Given the effectiveness achieved, it asks for men and means to be strengthened for "Secure Roads" and "Safe Stations", raising the level of security for citizens. Cancelling them would be a serious mistake at disadvantage of citizens". The League's message is politically clear.