Rome establishes security zone around the Colosseum and Imperial Forums

In recent weeks, according to reports from the dpa news channel, there had been an increase in thefts and robberies in the vicinity of the Colosseum. The incidents had caused a stir, among other places, at the main railway station Termini, another heavily frequented point in the city. Fireworks are also said to have been repeatedly set off by men in the area, according to the accounts.

Powers of the police in the zone

With the designation as a zone with enhanced controls, the security forces receive expanded powers. These include checks on persons, identity checks, and the temporary closure of individual areas if the situation requires it. The order is based on an instrument of Italian security legislation that has already been applied in other major Italian cities.

The authorities emphasize that the tourist use of the area will not be restricted by the measure. Visitors can still enter the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums, the Roman Forum, and the Capitoline Hill. However, they must expect increased checks, particularly at entrances, crossings, and heavily frequented squares.

Impact on tourism and residents

The specific details of the order – such as duration, scope, and specific control points – will be determined by the Prefecture in Rome, according to the reports. It is common for such a security zone to be in force for a limited period, usually several weeks, and to be extended if necessary.

For residents, people working in the area, and tourists, the new regulation primarily means a more visible police presence. Italian media interpret the step as a response to a subjectively and objectively increased sense of insecurity in the historic part of the city.

The city of Rome had already attempted several times in recent months to respond to the incidents around the main sights with additional police presence and video surveillance. With the formal establishment of the security zone, the administration is now taking a more binding step.

Background: Previous history of the measure

The tightened controls affect a central part of tourist Rome. The Colosseum alone is one of the most visited monuments in the country; the adjacent Imperial Forums and the Roman Forum are also part of the obligatory itinerary of nearly every visit to Rome.

If the security situation in the area stabilizes, the zone with enhanced controls could be lifted again under Italian law. Until then, the increased presence of law enforcement around the Colosseum remains visible.

Rome is not the first Italian city in which such an instrument has been used. Comparable zones have existed in the past in Milan, Naples, and Turin, for example around heavily frequented squares or train stations.