Action against stalking (Persecutory actions)

It is important to remember that persecutory actions are defined as any nuisances and/or repeated threats that disrupt your normal living conditions and make you feel anxious or fear for your safety. 
The following behaviours are included:

• Telephone calls and/or text messages that are threatening or insulting;
• Obsessive behaviours resulting in unwanted attention;
• Someone positioning themselves outside your place of employment or home;
• Intentional damage to your personal property (car, mail box, front door, etc.);
• Threats to persons close to or involved in a relationship with you.

Regulations have now been approved that acknowledge the actions described above, commonly known as "stalking", as crimes. 
Now, for the first time, it is possible to obtain some level of protection by merely presenting yourself to a Peace Officer (State Police or Carabinieri) and providing details of the event. 

The disturbing party will be called and "admonished" without the initiation of criminal proceedings.  In fact, it is not necessary that the victim present a formal complaint or police report.
With the admonition or warning, the Police Officer will demand that the perpetrator of the persecutory action stop all interference in the life of the victim and will warn the same that the continuation or repetition of the conduct could result in criminal charges. 

In this initial phase, there is no criminal proceeding and the admonishment is not in the form of a written criminal report. 
  

However, the officers will proceed if:

• the subject has been previously admonished
• the act has been committed against a minor or disabled person, or
• the crime is connected to another prosecutable offence

Nonetheless, if the victim wants to immediately open a criminal proceeding, they have the right to present a formal complaint within six months of the act.
For more than 10 years, there have been dedicated departments in every province known as the Squadre Mobili delle Questure (a special Police Department) who specialise in the investigation of crimes against minors, sexual violence, the abuse and mistreatment of women, and stalking. 

Within these Departments, there are qualified personnel who are equipped with particular sensitivity and the professional and human maturity necessary to handle these types of cases.  

In this delicate department, the State Police was particularly attentive to introduce appropriate technical instruments and a valid approach to the victims in the overall training of their investigators.  Due to the attention given to said crimes, numerous Departments were also equipped with private locations to better accommodate those who have suffered.
The aforementioned structures have adopted a variety of collaborative initiatives with anti-violence associations and cesntres to create a useful “network” for the protection of those who suffer violence, aggression or stalking.
In fact, the State Police’s role is of fundamental importance for the victims of stalking who can easily fall into a trap of isolation and/or underrating the problem. On the contrary, by meeting with police, the victim can receive targeted protection strategies.
A detailed statement of the facts is essential for a correct evaluation of the risk and allows the victim to access the protection instruments provided for specific crimes of "persecutory actions" - Art. 612-bis C.P. – recently introduced in the Italian legal system.

The victim has the right to request that the Police Officer provide a preventative measure known as "ammonimento" (admonishment). Moreover, the victim can obtain useful information from the State Police Offices regarding the nearest Anti-violence Centre. 


There is a specialised department at all Squadre Mobili della Polizia di Stato which is dedicated to fighting sexual violence against women and minors, mobbing and stalking.  
Furthermore, the Police Administration in Rome has established telephone service at 06/46862931.