Public places, no more Crans-Montana: Piantedosi directive on controls

"The tragedy at Crans-Montana has once again brought the issue of security in public establishments and entertainment venues to the fore". And, even though our system 'has shown great reliability over time', what happened in Switzerland 'requires us to intensify to the maximum, especially in a preventive key, the control activities on entertainment activities in order to protect the public safety of both workers and patrons'. Thus begins the text of the directive sent to the prefects by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

The crackdown, which follows the blitz all over Italy and the preemptive seizure of the Piper in Rome, envisages first of all a reconnaissance of the situation at a provincial level, after which each prefect will be called upon to 'give precise indications to all the players in the system' to strengthen control devices, verify full compliance with the sector's regulations, and fight unlawful activities. The snapshot will be taken through meetings of the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Safety, with the presence of the provincial commanders of the Fire Brigade and the participation of the associations representing the public operators and the representatives of the Labour Inspectorate.

For activities that fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial and municipal commissions for the supervision of public entertainment venues, it will be necessary to schedule audits to 'ascertain the continuing, full correspondence between the conditions that led to the issuing of the licence and those of actual operation'.

In particular, compliance with fire prevention, escape and emergency management measures, congruence between the structural arrangement of the premises, materials and installations, authorised capacity and actual crowding, together with compliance with the provisions on the use of fireworks and open flames, must be checked.

In the prefects' sights should also be set on the performance of complementary activities with respect to bar and restaurant services, 'in order to ascertain whether they take on a prevalent character and are configured as public entertainment', thus subject to stricter rules. The directive calls for the involvement of the fire brigade, labour inspectorate and local police. Without even excluding, where necessary, the administrative police offices of the Police Headquarters.