Naples – At Castel Capuano, one of the symbols of Neapolitan judicial history, the security presence is changing. Within a few days, according to internal sources, State Police officers will be replaced by private security guards. This decision is raising serious concerns among residents of the Porta Capuana area and among those who work daily inside the former courthouse, now home to important state offices.
The Castel Capuano complex is home to the National Agency for the Administration and Disposition of Assets Seized and Confiscated from Organized Crime, the Technical-Administrative Unit of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (UTA), and the Higher School of the Judiciary. These sensitive facilities handle sensitive files and documents on a daily basis, often related to investigations into organized crime.
The replacement of the police force with private security personnel—in line with what has already happened in other courts in the Naples Court of Appeal district—raises several concerns, however. Security guards, in fact, do not have police powers: in an emergency, they can only call 112 and wait for a patrol to arrive. This limitation, according to many employees, could prove fatal in critical situations or at risk to staff safety.
"It's not just a question of symbolic presence," explains an official who works inside Castel Capuano.
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The Porta Capuana area, among other things, has long been considered one of the most sensitive areas of Naples' historic center, often the scene of petty crime and social tensions. The presence of a police presence within the monumental complex had thus far helped maintain a certain balance, acting as a deterrent to outsiders as well.
Now, with the prospect of control being entrusted solely to private security, residents are becoming increasingly alarmed. "We felt safer knowing there were officers inside Castel Capuano," says a shopkeeper on Via Carbonara. "Removing the police would further weaken an already fragile area."
Many are calling for a review of the decision and for at least a minimal State Police presence to be maintained in the building, including to support the security guards. "Castel Capuano is not just any office," some employees emphasize, "but a building that stores sensitive documents and houses state personnel. Adequate protection is needed."
Meanwhile, the issue has also reached the unions' level and may soon be brought to the attention of the Prefecture. The goal, sources familiar with the matter explain, is to find a solution that guarantees the site's safety without sacrificing law enforcement control in an area that remains among the most sensitive in the city center.
Comments (2)
This is a sobering change; many people are concerned about security, especially in an already problematic area like Porta Capuana. Security guards don't have the same powers as police officers, and this is a problem. A solution must be found.
The situation is complicated; guards can't intervene like police officers. This could increase the risk for those working inside Castel Capuano and for residents living nearby.