by MK
In a move aimed at enhancing safety on public transportation, the City of Trieste introduced a new “Subsidiary Security Service” this morning, which will deploy security personnel at bus stops and onboard public buses. The initiative, spearheaded by the city’s Councilor for Citizen Safety Policies, Caterina de Gavardo, was presented during a press conference in the municipal government’s council chamber.
Joined by key regional officials, including Pierpaolo Roberti, the Regional Councilor for Local Autonomies, Safety, and Immigration, and representatives from Trieste Trasporti, the city’s public transportation company, de Gavardo outlined the goals of the project, which is set to run through June 2025. The service, she explained, aims to improve security on public transit in response to increasing concerns over misconduct and passenger safety.
“The safety of our public transportation system is a critical issue for our city,” de Gavardo said during her remarks. “Thanks to contributions from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, we have launched this project with the goal of ensuring that buses and bus stops remain a safe and reliable resource for all residents.”
The service will feature armed security guards at key transit points throughout the city, with initial coverage on bus lines 1, 10, 20, and 21. The guards, trained and authorized under Italy’s subsidiary security framework, will work in teams, patrolling both the vehicles and waiting areas during peak travel hours. They will operate under the direction of Vedetta 2 Mondialpol, the security firm that won the contract for the project.
The initiative follows growing concerns across Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region about incidents of misconduct on public transport. Over the past year, regional leaders have reported an uptick in unruly behavior and criminal activity on buses, which has prompted both local and regional governments to prioritize transit security.
At the press conference, Roberti, the regional councilor, emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to security. “We achieve security in many ways, through many small efforts that together create a safer environment,” he said. “Subsidiary security has made significant strides in recent years, and this project reflects that progress.”
Maurizio Marzi, president of Trieste Trasporti, provided details on the project’s operational framework, noting that the effort has been in development since March of this year. “This was a technically and bureaucratically complex job,” Marzi said, “but thanks to cooperation between the city and regional authorities, we’re now able to implement this vital service.”
Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed in March, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region allocated more than €121,000 to fund the initial nine-month pilot. The security personnel will be deployed five days a week, including holidays, with additional coverage planned for weekends in the spring of 2025. The goal, officials said, is to ensure passenger safety while reducing incidents of unruly behavior and providing support for transit staff.
While the service will initially focus on the city’s most heavily used bus lines, there are plans to extend it to other routes depending on the availability of funding and resources. “We hope there will be resources for an extension of the service beyond June 2025,” Marzi added.
The launch of the security initiative comes as part of a broader effort by Trieste’s city government to address public safety concerns across various sectors. In recent months, city officials have introduced a series of new measures aimed at improving safety in public spaces, including expanded police patrols and enhanced lighting in high-traffic areas.
During the press conference, de Gavardo emphasized that the new security service was just one element of a larger strategy to protect the city’s residents. “This project is just a small piece of a much larger puzzle,” she said, “but it reflects our commitment to listening to citizens and working with different entities to safeguard our community.”
As the service gets underway, both city and regional leaders expressed optimism about its potential impact on public safety. “The safety of our citizens is paramount,” de Gavardo said. “By working together, we can ensure that Trieste remains a safe, secure place for everyone.”
Interviews: Caterina de Gavardo, Councilor for Citizen Safety Policies; Maurizio Marzi, president of Trieste Trasporti; Pierpaolo Roberti, the Regional Councilor for Local Autonomies, Safety, and Immigration
