by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Alessandro Albini, head of the Mobile Squad, and his deputy, Federica Esposito
Threats, intimidation, stalking, harassment and physical assault: the indicators of gender-based violence in the Trieste area continue to paint a troubling picture. “And that’s without counting the cases we still don’t see,” said Alessandro Albini, head of the city’s Mobile Squad. Speaking alongside his deputy, Federica Esposito, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Albini reported that the police commissioner has issued 60 formal warnings since January to men who used violence against women.
“The data show that the path ahead is still long,” Albini said, noting that “some crucial steps are missing” in building a culture of mutual respect. Esposito urged the public not to look away. “When we become aware of situations of violence, we have a duty to report them. Too many cases come to light far too late.”
The Trieste Police Headquarters, working through the Mobile Squad and the Anti-Crime Division, has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to cases of gender-based violence. “Unfortunately this is no longer an emergency phenomenon,” Albini said. “It has become structural, and as such it must be managed and addressed.” Police efforts focus both on prevention — including the ongoing “This Is Not Love” campaign promoting the national anti-violence and stalking hotline, 1522 — and on enforcement.
“People must learn to accept ‘no,’” Albini added. Education, he said, is essential in helping younger generations understand and respect the choices and boundaries of others. Inside the police force, training is continuous, aimed at improving officers’ ability to recognize evolving forms of abuse, listen effectively, and respond appropriately. Digital technologies have changed some patterns of harassment, he said, citing recent cases of stalking carried out through GPS tracking. “Too many women still consider certain behaviors normal, when they are not,” Albini noted. Raising awareness remains a core objective for local authorities.
National data reflect similar concerns. From January to September, police across Italy issued 7,000 warnings and activated approximately 5,600 electronic monitoring bracelets. During the same period, 224 homicides were recorded nationwide, 98 of them within family or intimate-partner contexts. Seventy-three victims were women. In the first nine months of the previous year, Italy recorded 255 homicides, including 91 female victims.
“We cannot look the other way,” Esposito said. “Reporting violence is essential. We all have a role to play.”
