Policing & the law

[GordoNoir]

I'm doing research for a short-story about a crime committed in Italy. I'll describe the scenario below and invite forum members to post suggestions on where I might get additional information. I'd particularly like to hear from anyone with deep knowledge of police procedures in Italy. The crime I've developed in my short story involves a tourist who is pushed, falls and is left injured (I can't decide whether to kill him off at this point or have him go into a coma) by the side of a footpath in Vernazza.

Here are a few questions to get started:

1. If someone calls the police, would the call first go to the municipal police or would it go directly to the Carabinieri?
2. Is the nearest Carabinieri detachment (is it called that?) in La Spezia?
3. If the assaulted tourist cannot be identified, do the Carabinieri have a special "missing persons" section and would a case like I have described go to it?
4. When first investigating to determine if there is a crime (versus a mere accidental fall), what level of Carabinieri would likely be assigned? Detective?
5. Once if becomes clear that the tourist is a foreign visitor, would the case likely get more attention from the Carabinieri?
6. Are there other special departments of police agencies that might be involved in investigating a crime of this type? (Assuming the tourist does not die and there is no autopsy)?

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I'm new to this forum, so thanks in advance if you saw the misplaced post I made last week.

[bosco]

1. Not municipal police. If 112 is called, Carabinieri. If 113, Polizia del Stato.

2. Nearest caserma (barracks) is in Riomaggiore. Riomaggiore is in the province of which the capital city is la Spezia where there are several barracks, but there is not enough information on the Carabiniere's website to work out which city handles emergency calls - the number of Commands which do this does not coincide with the number of provinces: Arma dei Carabinieri - Home - L'Arma - Oggi - I Reparti - Organizzazione Territoriale

3-6 Search me Guv!

[Charles Phillips]

The key word which Bosco has used is 'caserma'. That is the base of the local carabinieri. On hearing of an interesting crime, the caserma would despatch 'una pattuglia'.

Now, it is up to you to develop it from here! Post your synopsis, and for sure you will find nitpickers on this site. They will come out of the woodwork the minute you put a foot wrong - so just post your draft story (we are all dying to know what happens!) and I'm sure you will get a lot of help on the detail.
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[GordoNoir]

As soon as I get a draft completed (the pressure is now on) I'll post it and invite comments and corrections.

Mille grazie.