APCOM

More foreign policemen are needed in Milano according to the President of Milano's Province Filippo Penati who yesterday presented a report on security in Lombardia's main city. "It is time to favour the presence of foreigners among the police" he said. "The presence of foreign police, with Italian citizenship, would help in preventing and repressing those crimes committed by foreigners ad would enable a better understanding of our set of rules" Penati explained.

However his proposal has already stirred up controversy within the local administration. On the one hand most of the center left opposition and trade unions have welcomed the initiative, stressing also the lack of personnel and the extremely heavy going shifts police must face. On the other hand, part of the majority has turned down the initiative including the vice Mayor of Milano, Riccardo De Corato: "I don't see the novelty of such idea, considering Italians with foreign origins already exist among the police personnel" he said.

Against Penati's proposal is also the Lega party according to which Italian citizens should in any case have priority over foreigners in the assignment of jobs and of council flats.