report: Nina Vaclavikova
interview: Trieste city councilor for safety, Caterina de Gavardo
Trieste’s local police launched a 24-hour patrol service on May 18, 2025, expanding coverage to overnight hours for the first time. The move aims to increase public safety and support the city’s Integrated Territorial Control Plan, which coordinates multiple law enforcement agencies.
Under the new system, two patrols operate from 6 p.m. to midnight and two from midnight to 6 a.m., complementing the existing operations center that provides continuous support and coordination for complex incidents.
City Councilor for Public Safety Caterina de Gavardo described the change as a “significant organizational shift,” noting that Trieste is the first city in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region to offer non-stop local police coverage. Eighty officers are involved in the overnight service, including 50 from the Motorized Unit, responsible for traffic enforcement and road safety, and 30 from territorial districts across the city.
Local Police Commander Walter Milocchi said nighttime patrols focus on traffic enforcement and incident response, with accidents at night often having more serious consequences despite being less frequent. The new structure, he added, has already proven effective in emergency situations, including snowfall.
Officials said the expansion was made possible by recent recruitment, completion of police armament, and extensive training for both new and existing officers. The program allows local police to focus on traffic and public safety while other law enforcement agencies attend to specialized duties.
