One of Italy's police unions on Sunday asked President Sergio Mattarella to support the police after the president on Saturday appeared to criticize alleged heavy handed baton charges at a pro-Palestinian student demo in Pisa.
"The union, COISP, quoted Mattarella in saying "it's true that'with young people batons express a failure', but it's also truethat we are witnessing the failure of a culture of legalitywhich is leading some people to think they need to violate normsand regulations in order to affirm their ideas".
COISP said "most illustrious President, we beg you not to fail to express your closeness to the police force, because we tooneed your support".
COISP Secretary Domenico Pianese added: "no officer goes on duty to hit someone over the head with a truncheon".
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