by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: Caterina De Gavardo, Councilor for Public Safety and Local Police; Paolo Jerman — Deputy Commander of the Trieste Local Police
Trieste’s waterfront district of Barcola recorded fewer road accidents and a steady police presence during the 2026 summer season, according to figures released Wednesday by city officials marking the end of a three-month public safety operation.
From mid-June through mid-September, the city’s Local Police deployed dedicated patrols along the popular seaside promenade each day, combining motorcycle officers, foot patrols and commercial inspectors to monitor traffic, public spaces and beachfront businesses.
The initiative, presented at Barcola’s Piazzale 11 Settembre by City Councillor for Public Safety Caterina de Gavardo and Deputy Police Commander Paolo Jerman, was designed to improve safety during the busiest months of the year, when thousands of residents and tourists gather along Trieste’s coastline.
According to the municipality, officers carried out approximately 4,300 hours of patrol duty over the summer, with eight personnel rotating across two daily shifts.
De Gavardo said the reinforced presence was introduced three years ago following residents’ requests for greater security in the area, where rising visitor numbers and increased traffic had coincided with episodes of petty crime.
“This has been a significant commitment,” she said. “The goal was to guarantee a constant presence and provide immediate responses to citizens’ needs.”
The operation involved three specialized units. The Motorized Department managed traffic and road safety between Barcola and Grignano, while the Special Interventions Unit patrolled the promenade on foot to provide rapid assistance and maintain visibility. The Commercial Police Unit conducted daytime and evening inspections of restaurants, kiosks and other businesses, checking compliance with consumer protection, food safety and public space regulations.
Municipal data showed 45 road accidents in the Barcola area during the 2026 summer period, down from 55 over the same months in 2025—a decline of roughly 20 percent.
Officials attributed the reduction to proactive traffic enforcement and the continuous presence of officers rather than to changes in traffic volume, noting that vehicle movement along the waterfront increased compared with previous summers.
Jerman said the strategy focused on preventing the behaviors most commonly associated with collisions through targeted enforcement.
“We were much more present on the territory than in previous years,” he said. “The decrease in accidents is the result of a fixed, proactive presence rather than simply observing what happens.”
The city also reported a decline in calls to its operations center, which officials said reflected residents increasingly approaching officers directly for assistance instead of contacting dispatch by phone.
Among the resources deployed was Conan, the Local Police’s canine unit, which officials described as serving both operational and deterrent functions during patrols.
Although the special summer operation has concluded, the municipality said motorcycle and foot patrols will continue monitoring Barcola throughout the year, with ongoing attention to traffic management and public safety along one of Trieste’s busiest waterfront districts.
