Everything, but not that.
Italian police are ready to make efforts in this Covid-19 pandemic.
Vaccines, tests, that's okay.
Wearing FFP2 masks all day, let's move on.
But pink?
Enough is enough.
“We pink masks, we don’t wear them.
They do not honor the uniform ”
: here is the reaction of transalpine police officers after having received batches of pale pink FFP2 masks, on January 13, 2021, added to their usual service uniform, reports
La Repubblica
.
Read alsoCovid-19: in Italy, the health pass becomes compulsory to work
The revolt affects the police of several Italian prefectures: Pavia, Varese (Lombardy), Ferrara, Bologna (Emilia-Romagna), Syracuse (Sicily), or even Venice.
After the arrival of these untimely lots, the police alerted the police union SAP (autonomous police union).
And the “case” even went up to the director general of the national police and prefect, Lamberto Giannini.
The secretary general of the SAP, Stefano Paoloni, wrote him a long letter, dated January 13, expressing the "perplexity" of his constituents.
“It is necessary that the uniform be worn with dignity and respect for the Institution”
Stefano Paolini, general secretary of the Italian police union SAP.
“Based on the oath we took, it is necessary that the uniform be worn with dignity and respect for the Institution to which we belong
,” recalls the secretary general of the SAP.
It is also a question of remaining credible with a population already very revolted against the police, further advances the trade unionist:
"especially at this historic moment, when (...) we are told of a growing aversion towards the forces of order, it becomes necessary to show sobriety and respect vis-à-vis the uniform.
Read alsoTravel to Italy and Covid-19: vaccination pass, FFP2 mask, curfew... What you need to know to go there in 2022
The argument – very well supported – of the SAP continues as follows:
“These are things that must be part of the framework of those who are called upon to enforce the rules. (...) The accessories used must be consistent and consistent with the uniform, in the same way that it is not recommended to use masks with showy colors or with excessive ornaments (...)»
. In a nutshell, this color would risk
“harming the image of the institution”
.
But the fear of being ridiculed risks turning against the unfortunate police officers, whose turmoil, which also appeared on the
New York Times
website , is already causing a stir on social networks.
Some suspecting these brave men of being afraid of being ridiculed by wearing a color deemed unmanly.
"Police officers don't want the pink mask because it would undermine their masculinity, but for decades female police officers have had to wear the male uniform with the tie"
, commented a surfer on Twitter.
"There is no prejudice against this color
, defends trade unionist Stefano Paoloni in the right-wing daily
Il Giornale, but because the use of our uniform is subject to rules."
Therefore, the union calls for
“immediate intervention”
in order to provide the police with
“masks of a different color (white, blue or black) (…)”
.
“There is nothing improper about wearing a pink mask. (...) The respect for the uniforms does not come from the colors, but from the way of acting and the work of the men and women who wear these uniforms”
, for its part reacted, on Twitter, Teresa Bellanova, vice -Minister of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The director general of the Italian national police has not, for the time being, followed up on this “state affair”.
