is the command, control and co-ordinating centre of the activities of the entire Carabinieri Corps. It consists of a General Staff, which is responsible for planning, organizing and developing general, training, technical, scientific, logistic and operational organization of the whole Corps.

General Headquarters also provides technical and scientific support in the form of an ADP Centre, a National Selecion and Recruitment Centre, an Applied Psychology Centre, and a Telecommunications Monitoring an Control Centre.

2. Officers in permanent service of the Special Role are recruited: - among the Reserve Officers of the Carabinieri who have applied for two additional years of National Service; - among the Warrant Officers and Brigadieri (in possession of a secondary school diploma). The former must be under forty years of age, the latter must be over 28; - among the retired Reserve Officers under 32 yrs. These officers must pass an entrance examination and subsequently get through a 12 months course at the Carabinieri Officer School.

3. Officers in service of the Technical Role are recruited: - among civilians and soldiers under 32 yrs, in possession of university degree that is compatible with one of the following areas of employment: - Applied psychology; - Computer science; - Laboratory technical research. These Officers are to pass an entrance examination, thus obtaining the rank of Lieutenant. At the end of the twelve-month training course, they are appointed Captains.

4. Reserve Officers. These are recruited among: - reserve Officer Cadets from the various Army branches; they must meet specific requirements, pass an entrance examination and get through a two months course at the Carabinieri Officer School; at the end of their National Service, they can apply to stay in service for two additional years; - Senior Warrant Officers of the Carabinieri, who have the necessary qualifications and have completed the minimum period of service for retirement purposes.

There are also seven centres for specialist training in signals (Rome), for helicopter pilots (Rome), skiing and mountaineering (Selva di Val Gardena), for frogmen (Genoa), dog units (Florence), marksmen (Rome) and horsemanship (Rome).

Territorial Branch

The Territorial Branch of the Carabinieri has recently been reorganized so as to adjust to the State's administrative system:

It is organized as follows:

-5 Divisions with interregional tasks;

-18 Region Headquarters whose jurisdiction coincides with the administrative regions;

-95 Province Headquarters to the different Provinces of the Republic;

-516 Companies, divided into Groups in the largest Provinces;

-4664 Stations which represent the basic unit of the Corps. They are constituted at a municipal level or in the different districts of the country's major cities.

It also comprises a series of very highly trained technical units, which include the following:

Radio Patrol Car Units and Detachments of Operational and Radio Patrol Car Units.

These are assigned to Intermediate Headquarters (Provincial Headquarters in areas with several Intermediate Headquarters) and operate throughout the country for the purpose of dealing with all public safety situations calling for:

• active preventive surveillance;

• prompt intervention;

• rapid concentration of forces;

• flexible organization allowing high mobility.

These Units use cars motorcycles and special vehicles, the latter specially equipped to carry out technical examinations on the site of particularly serious crimes or accidents. These high performance vehicles are linked by radio to their respective Provincial and Intermediate Headquarters, which coordinate their activities through their own <<Operations Centre". The activities of such units consist of:

• non stop, round-the-clock surveillance carried out by continual patrolling of town and out-of-town areas and the checking of likely targets and the most sensitive sites throughout the entire area for which they are responsible;

• emergency intervention in response to citizens' calls to the Operations Centres, which is reached by dialling 112;

• direct intervention on their own initiative for the prevention of crime, the investigation of road accidents or for any other purpose arising in the course of patrol duty;

• rescue services and assistance to the population and to individual citizens.

These are organized in Operational Units and Information Units and operate at the Provincial Headquarters level. They are highly trained in criminal police operations, in the field of intelligence and as military police. They are equipped with high-tech scientific material.

Carabinieri Detachments for Criminal Police Sections.

These are seconded to each District Court and are under the direct command of the Legal Authorities

Operational Units and Operational Detachments of Operational and Radio Patrol Car Units.

These operate at the level of the Intermediate Headquarters (Companies and Lieutenancies) in matters of a regarding criminal police, intelligence and military police.

These units operate in the Frontier Posts. These are set up at all border cross points on roads, railways, airports, ports and lakes to check passengers, vehicles and boats to enforce the Immigration Laws.

Police Blocks. These come under the Stations and; set up to deal with exceptional requirements in a specific locality.

Carabinieri Light Infantry Heliborn Squadrons.

Two special Squadrons have been created in Calabria and in Sardinia to fight crime more efficiently and to increase searches for fugitives from justice. These Squadrons are respectively: the "Carabinieri Light Infantry Heliborn Squadron - Calabria" and the "Carabinieri Light Infantry Heliborn Squadron - Sardinia". Their seat is at Abbasanta. These units are composed by specially selected and trained soldiers under the command of a Captain.

These squadrons have to carry out a continuous and scrupulous surveillance of the territory, side by side with the institutional activity carried out by the territorial Detachments.

Units which have received special training in fighting certain forms of crime (banditry mafia, criminal associations). They carry out constant surveillance over vast areas Iying outside the main lines of communications where these kind of criminals tend to operate. They are equipped with special four-wheel drive vehicles which are particularly suitable for cross country work. They can also receive support from heliborne units which allow the squads to link up rapidly with each other and wìth other units engaged in preventive action.

Military Police Branch

The Military Police carry out police duties within Armed Forces to guarantee the secrecy and security installations. This represents another delicate and important sector of the Corps' activities. It includes units serving both at national and NATO level.

The following operate at national level:

1. centrally: - Defence Cabinet Carabinieri Unit; - Defence Staff Carabinieri Unit; - Navy Carabinieri Unit; - Air Force Carabinieri Unit; - Independent Carabinieri Group attached to Army Sts

2. Iocally (at Territorial Military Headquarters, Marine Departments, Air Regions, Large Army Units, Training and Logistic Units): different types of Carabinieri units with Military Criminal Police and Military Police duties.

At NATO level, the Corps provides Military Police services for NATO both in Italy and abroad with personnel placed in various branches of the Alliance and in the Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Europe

Under the command of the "Palidoro" Division of Mobile and Special Carabinieri Units, together with the Special Branch. Its duties are related to the defence of national territory, and it also assists the territorial units in keeping law and order, in large-scale police operations against crime and in aid and rescue operations in times of national calamity.

It comprises the 11th Brigade, which is divided up into 13 Battalions stationed at various locations all over the country.

One component of the mobile branch is the 1st Carabinieri Parachute Battalion "Tuscania", which is part of the "Folgore" Parachute Brigade, the descendant of the Battalion of the same name which first introduced the military parachutist specialization into the Italian Army. In 1982, on account of the very high professional standard reached by the Battalion, it was selected as a component the Multinational Peace Force in the Lebanon and distinguished itself in the performance of its military duties as well as in the help it gave to the population.

This is composed of a number of units which, from an operational viewpoint, offer essential support to the Corps' activities at all levels, and, from a formal viewpoint, complete the structure of the Corps. It comprises the 12th Brigade which is composed by the:

The Band comprises 103 musicians selected from among the best in Italy and is world-renowned for the stylistic perfection of its performances. Its very wide repertoire ranges from traditional military marches to the most exacting classical works.

The widely acclaimed foreign tours of the Carabinieri Band began in 1916. The Band has continued to interpret in music the traditions and customs of Italy an has been considered by many as a symbol of our country. Since its foundation it has not missed one International Band Show. However, it is the Italians who most appreciate it and its presence is requested at all the most important national civilian and military events.

This consists of a Squadron Group and a Riding Centre. It continues the noble traditions of the Italian Cavalry. The Horse Regiment provides all the troops which perform the well-know "Equestrian Carousel", which has delighted so many spectators in major Italian and foreign cities with their matchless horsemanship.

The mounted Officers, NCOs and other Ranks also participate in national and international horse shows.

Mention must be made of the Olympic and world titles won by Col. Raimondo d'Inzeo and the numerous national and international victories of other horsemen in the Regiment.

Based in Rome, it consists of 3 Drug Fighting Units (Milan, Rome, Naples) divided into 12 Sections and one Squadron. It operates all over the country, either directly in order to locate drug supply channels and identify the main storage and handling centres, or in support of action carried out by area headquarters within their respective jurisdictions. On an international level it collaborates with its counterparts in the police forces of other countries.

Based in Rome at the Ministry of Health, it operates through three main Centres (Milan, Rome and Naples) and through a number of units with regional or interprovincial jurisdiction located in the larger industrial and commercial cities. It protects public health by fighting the adulteration of foodstuffs, dietary products and insecticides and supervising the production and sale of patent medicines and veterinary products. The anti-adulteration Units act in close collaboration with Area Headquarters and in particular with Operating Units and Stations, boosting the latter's action with the necessary technical expertise when required and carrying out nation-wide operations thanks to large-scale investigation techniques.

Based in Rome, this Unit was set up to carry out special surveillance and armed bank escort throughout the whole Italy. Detachments are deployed in all the provinces. It also covers the Anti-counterfeiting Operating Unit, that has the task of investigating the counterfeiting of money, valuables, credit instruments and of National and International Stamps and Fiscal Stamps.

Set up in 1978 to deal with special emergencies, such as air hijackings, kidnappings, prison revolts and the like, it operates at national level under the direct command of General Headquarters. It is issued with al the high-tech equipment relevant to this sector.

Based at the Officers School in Rome, its well equipped laboratory enables the Centre to perform scientific investigations requested by the Legal Authorities and the various Corps HQs. In particular it carries out chemical and biological analyses, ballistic and graphological tests, fingerprint examinations, technological examinations of a wide range of materials, surveys and photographic examinations for criminological purposes.

Based at the Ministry of the Environment, in Rome, it is responsible for curbing and preventing offences which damage the environment, and carries out criminal police activities in environmental matters at the request of the Legal Authorities, acting either on reports received or on their own initiative. The Unit is composed of personnel who are highly trained to carry out their statutory duties and can rely on modern facilities and effective operating equipment, as well as the support of the territorial and special branches.

The Carabinieri Presidential Detachment, at Corps Headquarters Level, is in charge of surveillance and security around the walls and at the entrances to the Quirinale Palace, the presidential estates, along the itineraries followed by the Head of State when in residence and also on the occasion of visits to other Italian localities. The Carabinieri Headquarters at the Senate, Chamber of Deputies and Constitutional Court, also at the level of Corps Headquarters, are responsible for surveillance and security tasks at their respective locations, as well as providing escort and guard of honour services.

Other units with special tasks are those seconded to the Magistracy, the Council of State, the Court of Accounts, various Ministries and also the external surveillance of prisons.

Are Carabinieri who have been specially selected for their physique (height over 1.90 m) and their military bearing. As in the past, the "Cuirassiers" have the privilege of serving as Guards of Honour and Escorts to the Head of State and are entrusted with all security and reception service inside the Presidential Residence at the Quirinale Palace.

It has aims of presence in the national territory about an activity of contrast regarding the organized criminality.

The Headquarters of this group is in Rome and it is so articulated:

- at central level: on three Sections (Terrorism, Organized Criminality and Kidnapping of person), and also an Analysis and Technical Surveys Nucleus;

- at suburban level: on Sections anti-criminal.

It is under "Palidoro" Division control but it guarantees, together with the Sections A/C, a continuous informative interchange with Province and Region Headquarters, in a close and constant agreement.

This consists of a "Helicopter Centre" based at Pratica di Mare (Rome), under command of the XII Brigade, and 13 detached Helicopter Units, which cover the whole of Italy. The helicopters in service consist of single or twin engine light and multi-role versions.

Personnel, both air and ground crew, consist of Officers and N.C.O.s from the Corps who are selected very carefully and then sent to the Military Air Force Academy where they get their pilot's licence.

The Carabinieri Helicopter Service provides support for operational ground units engaged in criminal police, law and order, public safety, transport and rescue duties.

The Centre has its headquarters in Florence and operates through a network of units detached to the Regions in order to ensure the rapid deployment of this specialist unit anywhere in Italy. There is also a Police Dog Training Centre in Rome.

Depending on the dog's training (patrol work, drug fighting operations, avalanche work), the Police dog Units provide a useful support to the activities of the territorial Units. These activities cover a wide range, from Criminal Police work (search for wanted criminals, missing persons and drugs) to rescue operations (avalanche or landslide victims) and to the support of units engaged in round-ups, searches in open country and road blocks.

This service is equipped with different kinds of motorboats according to requirements and allows the area headquarters with jurisdiction over coastal and lake areas to carry out their statutory tasks on the sea and on inland waterways.

Personnel are composed of N.C.O.s and other Ranks who, after strict selection, are trained at the Naval and the Customs and Revenue Schools.

The Carabinieri naval vessels are used in particular for: patrolling the coasts and internal waterways to prevent and restrict offences against the regulations regarding pleasure craft, fishing and pollution; criminal police operations; supporting frontier police in preventing and eliminating smuggling.

The Naval Service also comprises a Carabinieri Centre for Frogmen, based in Genoa, as well as five Frogmen Units detached at Region level with jurisdiction over coasts and inland waterways. The Carabinieri Frogmen are very highly specialized and use highly sophisticated equipment and material. They provide excellent support for units engaged in criminal police operations involving sea, lake and river searches (to recover arms, munitions, corpses, wrecks, material evidence and anything else hidden or lost in a water environment) .

In addition to these activities, the Carabinieri Frogmen perform many other tasks, such as underwater filming, underwater surveying, taking biological samples for water pollution analysis and rescue operations in time of bad weather or floods.

Welfare and Leisure Branch

Serving and retired Carabinieri:

- can use the following facilities:

• three mountain residences (Merano, Bressanone, Mancuso Village on the Sila) and a seaside residence at Ischia, as well as the "Casale Renzi" recreational centre in Rome. As part of leisure exchange agreements with police forces in other countries, they can also use similar facilities provided by the French Gendarmerie and the Portuguese Republican National Guard;

• 23 bathing establishments open on Italian beaches and lakesides during summer;

• Guest and Conference Rooms and Commissaries at Corps Headquarters and smaller Units, as well as cinemas in the larger barracks;

- are eligible to apply for the following:

• the Relief, Welfare and Prize Fund for Carabinieri Corps Personnel which: assists those with economic problems due to particular circumstances and/or serious illness; stipulates agreements with banks and insurance companies to provide special terms for members of the Carabinieri; provides scholarship of varying amounts to Carabinieri and their children, according to the educational level concerned;

• the O.N.A.O.M.A.C. (National Welfare Organization for Orphans of Carabinieri) which assists orphans up to the age of 18 of Carabinieri of all Ranks;

• the National Carabinieri Association, for both serving and retired Carabinieri. It has more than 1,400 sections in Italy with a total of 130,000 members.

It also has numerous Sections in other countries, in particular in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay and the U.S.A. to keep alive the spirit of comradeship and loyalty among Carabinieri in service and those in retirement wherever they live;

• the Welfare Organization for Carabinieri Officers.

The Sports Centre co-ordinates at competition level full time athletes in the Sports Sections and at recreational level the other members of the Corps' Units.

The existing Sports Sections are: Judo, Karate, Fencing, Modern Pentathlon, Rifle Shooting and Horse Riding at Rome; Swimming at Naples; Field Athletics at Bologna; Parachute Jumping at Leghorn; Winter Sports at Selva di Val Gardena.

Carabinieri athletes participating in national and international military and civilian competitions have so far won the following medals:

-Gold:

11 in the Olympic Games;

105 in World Championships;

126 in World Military Championships;

110 in European Championships;

1384 in Italian Championships;

594 in Italian Military Championships;

-Silver:

13 in the Olympic Games; 73 in World Championships; 84 in World Military Championships; 111 in European Championships; 881 in Italian Championships; 583 in Italian Military Championships;

-Bronze:

13 in the Olympic Games; 65 in World Championships; 118 in World Military Championships; 78 in European Championships; 662 in Italian Championships; 446 in Italian Military Championships.

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