by MK
A pilot program that deployed private security personnel during this year’s Barcolana sailing regatta will return in 2026 and may be extended to smaller public events across the region, officials announced on Tuesday.
Pierpaolo Roberti, the regional councillor for security, said the initiative delivered “convincing results,” prompting the administration to incorporate it into next year’s planning. The approach, he noted, is part of a broader strategy to strengthen territorial oversight, with the region’s upcoming budget allocating €37 million to public safety measures.
Introduced experimentally in 2025, the program is supported by €3 million in regional funding directed to local chambers of commerce. The initiative offers participating bars, restaurants, and other public establishments the option of hiring trained stewards or licensed security guards during major events.
Roberti said the presence of private security staff during the Barcolana helped prevent incidents in areas with particularly dense crowds. Their deployment, he explained, allowed police forces to distribute their patrols more evenly across the city rather than concentrating resources in a single location. He added that stewards and security guards also played a role in de-escalating situations linked to excessive alcohol consumption before they could disrupt the event or damage its public image.
The project was proposed by Fipe Trieste, the local chapter of the federation representing public establishments, and carried out under the supervision of the Trieste Prefecture, with coordination from law enforcement agencies.
Representatives of the institutions involved attended Monday’s press conference, including Trieste Prefect Giuseppe Petronzi, Antonio Paoletti, president of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, and Stefano Lonza, president of Fipe Trieste.
