The proximity activity of the State Police in railway stations. 740 the missing persons tracked down, of which 634 minor
From January to October, 2019 were 740 missing persons tracked down by the Railway Police, of which 634 are minor. In 2018 the traced were 949 of which 826 unaccompanied minors.
One of the distinguishing features of Polfer's everyday life is to be "in the midst of people", on trains and in stations and, thanks to the constant presence on the territory, missing persons are tracked down, in particular minors. Interventions characterized by a profound closeness and solidarity, "always being there" mainly with people in need, who are the main protagonists especially today on the occasion of the "day of kindness", which is dedicated to the attention and care of others.
Many are the particular stories whose protagonists are the elderly, lonely people, "difficult" boys or teenagers who leave their homes, sick people or those with psychological problems who gravitate to the station.
These are only the last interventions carried out by the Specialty. An adolescent boy who had left his home was found at the Rome Tiburtina station. Following a report regarding the presence of the missing young man in the station, a brief description was issued, the policemen activated and found him on a platform in apparent waiting for the train. Gently they approached and after a first contact they managed to get in tune with the guy who told them he had left home two days earlier for some personal problems. Once the parents were alerted, the boy could embrace them with emotion and happiness.
At the Brenner, three unaccompanied non-EU minors were found, who tried to cross the border to rejoin family and friends. Children without documents and with no means of support have been entrusted to reception facilities and humanitarian assistance centers.
Tracked down a man at the Pisa Centrale Railway Station, who had been missing for about a year from the province of Terni. The Agents boarded a train coming from La Spezia immediately noticed the presence of the man who appeared to be lost. It became clear that he needed assistance, not having the necessary resources to continue the journey, nor documents. Accompanied in the police offices he was refreshed and was visited by medical personnel. Reports of disappearance emerged from the ritual checks that his family had presented a year before to the Carabinieri of Amelia (TR). The Agents confirmed that it was the same person, only thanks to the web form prepared by the television program "Chi l'ha visto". Family members were contacted, who were able to hug their loved one.
Finally, in the Foggia station, before the train left, the staff of the Railway Police Section reached the platform where in the leading car, together with the conductor, there was a very old and disoriented person. The agents were able, with extreme patience, to be followed in the office, where they had the opportunity to identify the man, a ninety-year-old native of the Province of Bari, a retired Ferrovie dello Stato, who continued to use the train for passion. Fortunately in the wallet, in addition to the identity document the man also had the telephone numbers of the family members, who were immediately contacted and reassured.
Precisely in Foggia, where on 12 September the Polfer staff had raised an administrative sanction against some members of a voluntary association, (however the sanction was canceled) a fruitful agreement was born between the management of the Polfer Compartment for Puglia, the Basilicata and Molise and the leaders of this association, aimed at stemming the phenomenon of marginalization, with particular attention to minors, by creating an information and support network in favor of the vulnerable. For several years in all the stations of Puglia, with the collaboration of the Social Services and the voluntary sector, activities have been carried out to protect people in marginal conditions, also thanks to the memorandum of understanding "Mission dignity" signed in 2013 by the Bodies Local, FS Italiane Group, Railway Police, University and ASL. Furthermore, the Railway Police Department for Puglia, Basilicata and Molise has created "SOS mental illness", a project selected by the Ministry of the Interior with the aim of reassuring people in critical situations and entrusting them to family members or educators trying to avoid repetitions of escapes and dangerous situations.