4.403.466 people checked, 923 arrested and 9535 under investigation: this is the first budget for 2023 of the Railway Police. The strengthening of identification checks, supported by the smartphones supplied to the patrols connected directly to the police databases, made it possible to trace 272 wanted subjects and therefore arrested as they were subject to restrictive measures.
There were also numerous seizures: 40 weapons, as well as 2,093 kg of heroin, approximately 1,289 kg of cocaine, and over 18 kg of hashish. There were over 8845 fines: 2600 to the highway code and 4173 fines relating to the railway police regulations. 56141 bags were checked also with the use of metal detectors and 273 inspections were carried out at baggage deposits.
During the year, 193.954 patrols were engaged in the station and 35.551 were on board the train. A total of 72.947 railway trains were present. Furthermore, 10.043 anti-pickpocketing services have been set up in civilian clothes, both in airports and on trains, with the aim of specifically combating thefts and scams against travellers.
Prevention activities were encouraged with an increase in extraordinary days of territorial control for a total of 42 operations: 15 "Safe Stations", aimed at strengthening checks on people and baggage; 13 “Rail Safe Days”, aimed at preventing improper or anomalous behavior, often the cause of investments; 12 "Red Gold", aimed at combating copper theft and 2 "Action Week", aimed at strengthening controls on trains carrying dangerous goods.
In the international field, cooperation activity continued with the European Association of Railway and Transport Police RAILPOL, with the aim of strengthening collaboration between member countries through the mutual exchange of information, the definition of common operational strategies and the planning of joint control actions. The railway police participated in the 3 Rail Action days and 2 Rail Action Weeks organized to combat the most widespread criminal phenomena in the railway sector.
Furthermore, the Supervisory Unit carried out 8 checks at the railway stations where there is a security device integrated by the participation of Security Guards.
Surveillance services continued at border stations and on cross-border passenger trains with the aim of preventing illicit activities of a transnational nature, with specific reference to illegal immigration. In particular, the activities, carried out jointly with the Austrian and German police along the border areas of Brenner and Tarvisio, made it possible to control 11.373 foreigners, of which 296 were traced in an irregular position.
The activity to combat copper theft, which in the railway sector often causes delays in the movement of trains and significant inconvenience for travellers, has resulted in around 2.990 checks at metal collection and recovery centres, in around 9.353 patrolling services railway lines and approximately 3.746 roadside checks for suspicious vehicles. This complex device allowed the recovery of over 52.438 kg of the so-called "red gold" of illicit origin, the arrest of 16 people and the reporting of 92 subjects.
As part of the checks on dangerous goods, 134 checks were carried out on approximately 835 Italian and foreign railway wagons. 45 the irregularities found during the 3 dedicated action weeks, which flanked the ordinary control activities, carried out by the staff of the Specialty.
Furthermore, railway safety education activities continued as part of the "Train... to be cool" campaign, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit and with the scientific support of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of University of Rome Sapienza. Over 88.000 students were reached during the year. The initiative, since its inception in 2014, has made it possible to reach approximately 473.000 students in more than 6.800 meetings.
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