Italian Steps - Emergencies - Cultural notes

Fact File

• Thanks to the variety of different police forces in action, there is a conspicuous police presence throughout Italy. The Polizia di Stato, or PS, wear blue uniforms and deal with most crimes. There are different branches of the PS, like the Stradale, highway patrol, and the Ferroviaria, railway police, who look after transport security.



• The other main force is the Carabinieri, a special corps of the Italian military who act both as military and civilian police. They deal with offences ranging from organised crime to speeding, and also have the power to conduct random security checks. They usually wear black uniforms in the winter and blue in the summer.



• A third force, the dreaded Vigili Urbani, traffic police, issue on the spot parking fines and other traffic offences. They wear a blue uniform in winter and white in summer.



• Women police officers and traffic police have only appeared on Italian streets relatively recently, and new words have been coined as a result: poliziotta, policewoman, and vigilessa, traffic policewoman. There are no women carabinieri, as women are not currently allowed in the army, though pressure is being put on the government to change this.



• If you are victim of a theft, you must report it within 24 hours to the nearest questura or commisariato, police station. The police will issue you with a denuncia, report, which you'll need if you have to make an insurance claim later on.



• For medical emergencies, you can pick up most medicines across the counter in la farmacia, pharmacy, where medically trained staff are on hand to give you advice or tell you where to find further help. In more severe cases, the casualty department, Pronto Soccorso, of any hospital can treat you. Emergency treatment is free for EU residents with an E111 form, available in the UK from any post office.



• Thanks to a night service called the servizio notturno, there's always a pharmacy open in all cities and most towns. These are listed in the local pages of daily newspapers, and rotas and opening hours are posted on all pharmacy doors.



• Here are some emergency numbers:
  For general emergencies, call 113.
  For the police, call 112.
  For ambulance or emergency medical assistance, call 118.
  For the fire service, call 115
  For car breakdowns, call 116.



• For any other emergency supplies, the tabbacheria, newsagents, is a good place to start. They stock anything from razors and batteries to bus and metro tickets. Some larger shops also sell stamps, francobolli, and can weigh parcels.



• Your relevant embassy or consulate is also available to help should you require. Here is the address of the British Embassy in Rome, but you can also find others at the link provided below:
  British Embassy
  Via XX Settembre 80a, Rome
  Tel: 06 4220 0001