Local police not seen to hold an important role in disaster management


30.09.2018

Generally, the local police was perceived as unprepared, and holding a police role that was seen to be more related to regulating than to helping the general public: “I think they are trained for inspections, I do not think they are trained for [disaster] management […] I do not trust the police because they have more administrative roles, they are more trained to fine people than to deal with real emergencies” (G2-P7 - see source document for full reference). However, whereas many participants referred in this context to the Italian traffic police, some of them also self-critically (dis-)qualified such attitude as partisan, which was particularly prevalent in the discussion groups with the youngest participants: “I think it is a stereotype: Policemen and Carabinieri are those that stop you in the streets and can fine you” (G1-P4- see source document for full reference). Others expressed in this context that, despite their feelings of distrust in the police, they feel a form of citizen duty: “In my opinion there is a sort of social contract, I mean authorities are authorities and we need to trust them, otherwise if they tell me to do something I will not do it. I think that we need to respect authorities in any case. However, I have to say that when you asked the question I thought ‘we cannot trust the police too much’. Even though I try to” (G2-P6 - see source document for full reference).


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