The 500 soldiers in Milan without handcuffs, tasers and stinging spray: So they are useless and in danger

Five hundred additional soldiers will deploy to Milan starting Saturday, October 24, under Italy’s new security decree. These troops, drawn from the Folgore parachute regiment based in Siena, will operate without handcuffs, Tasers, or pepper spray. Defense Ministry sources described the lack of standard restraint equipment as rendering the soldiers useless and placing them in danger. The deployment represents the first major test of the government’s plan to integrate military forces into urban policing roles. The operation expands the existing Safe Streets initiative, which originated with Law 125 of 2008 during the administration of Silvio Berlusconi. That law allowed for the temporary deployment of up to 3,000 armed forces personnel for six months to assist police in controlling territory within metropolitan areas facing exceptional crime prevention needs. In 2023, the scope widened to include Safe Stations, focusing on railway hubs in large cities. Currently, approximately 6,800 soldiers serve under this framework. The new 500 troops assigned to Milan will join these existing units. Under the current legal structure, these military personnel hold the status of public officials and public safety agents. They answer to the prefect and the chief of police. Their duties include defending sensitive targets and patrolling on foot alongside civilian police officers. While they can identify individuals and check personal documents, their power to search persons or premises is limited to cases where there is a well-founded suspicion that someone possesses weapons, ammunition, or explosives. They may use firearms strictly within the limits defined by the penal code. However, the 2008 law explicitly excludes the grant of standard arrest powers typically held by police and Carabinieri. Instead, the Defense Ministry cites Article 19 of Law 128, dated March 26, 2001. This provision allows military personnel guarding institutional buildings or other public interest sites to identify and detain individuals and vehicles for the time strictly necessary to allow law enforcement intervention. Consequently, soldiers cannot receive complaints, conduct investigations, or interrogate suspects. If a soldier is struck, the attacker faces more severe criminal charges. Furthermore, official service reports written by these military personnel carry evidentiary weight until proven false through a specific legal process. Despite these legal frameworks, internal concerns persist within the Defense Ministry. Sources indicated that without access to handcuffs, pepper spray, or electric shock devices, some officials fear the soldiers could become mere shields or targets for violence. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expressed disappointment and concern following the Council of Ministers approval of the decree. On Monday at 9:46 PM, he posted on social media that meaningful implementation required norms allowing soldiers to act like police forces for three months. However, after meetings at the Chancellery and consultations with the President’s legal offices, this request was denied the following day. In practical terms, Safe Streets soldiers currently cannot use standard police or Carabinieri handcuffs. Instead, they utilize Velcro straps known as strap handcuffs to immobilize individuals. The restriction on standard equipment highlights the ongoing tension between military capabilities and their limited legal authority in domestic policing scenarios. The upcoming weekend in Milan will provide the initial real-world assessment of how effectively these constraints function in practice. The outcome of this trial period will likely influence future legislative adjustments regarding the role of the army in urban security operations.