Florence is strengthening its neighbourhood security with the introduction of a “proximity policing” scheme.
Around 80 officers will be deployed each week, carrying out roughly 40 patrol services, primarily on foot. Their role will include engaging directly with residents and shopkeepers, gathering reports and responding to local issues. Officers will wear identifiable insignia and operate along routes planned in coordination with district representatives. Each patrol will produce a report feeding into a central coordination group involving departments such as social services, environment and mobility. The group will meet every two weeks to assess issues raised and organize targeted interventions. Specialized units, including canine teams, anti-drug squads and mounted patrols, will be deployed as needed depending on the situation.
Currently in a pilot phase through the end of 2026, the scheme prioritizes areas with high footfall and community activity, including schools, parks, markets, commercial zones and tourist districts. Specific routes have been mapped across all five city districts, from central areas such as piazza D’Azeglio and San Lorenzo to residential neighbourhoods like Rifredi, Gavinana and Isolotto.
“This is a project designed to provide tangible answers to citizens,” says Mayor Sara Funaro. “A visible and continuous presence, direct dialogue and the ability to intervene are essential to ensuring safety.”
Despite the administration’s emphasis on increased presence, the initiative has sparked debate within the city council. The centre-right Lega welcomed the move, but deemed it insufficient, arguing for stronger enforcement measures, while the left Sinistra Progetto Comune said the initiative lacked prior consultation and described it as focused more on control than on long-term community building.
As the pilot phase begins, the city administration presents the program as a pragmatic step toward improving everyday safety. Critics, however, remain divided, viewing it either as too limited or too enforcement-oriented, suggesting that the debate over how best to ensure urban security in Florence is far from settled.
