Municipal police officers in Florence have helped a family of Afghan refugees including a mother, father and four young children. The parents and kids were found in a situation of extreme need in the area of the central station in the Tuscan city, local police said in a statement issued on February 28.
Members of an Afghan family, including a father, mother and four children aged four months, two, four and 10 years, were approached by local police in a street in Florence located in the area of the main Santa Maria Novella train station. The parents were carrying suitcases with all their personal belongings. They told the officers that they were searching for a place to stay but had nothing to support themselves and no contacts in the area.
Family placed under the care of social services
In a statement issued on February 28, local police said their officers immediately alerted social services. The family of refugees was accompanied to a help centre for a first meeting with social workers and, subsequently, to the territorial offices of social services, where emergency housing was found before the family's situation and needs can be properly evaluated, per the statement.
The meeting was also attended by a cultural mediator who spoke the refugees' language, Pashtu. The operation was part of the activities undertaken by municipal police officers who are part of the so-called anti-degradation unit, which devotes particular attention to situations of social vulnerability.
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Local authorities praise operation
"This intervention confirms how municipal police is playing a role that goes beyond surveillance and the fight against illegal behavior," stressed Security Councillor Andrea Giorgio.
"Along with controlling the territory, there is a constant work of prevention, counselling and cooperation with social services to intercept situations of marginalization and offer integrated responses. Security is also built in this way, creating a network and guaranteeing proximity at the community's service", he added, thanking municipal police for the "professionality and dedication" shown on a daily basis.
"Cases like this one show the utmost attention devoted to situations of potential vulnerability in the area and the full cooperation between municipal police and social services," commented Welfare Councillor Nicola Paulesu.
"The social services activated by municipal police intervened from the beginning to manage the immediate emergency and then took charge of the case with an in-depth analysis to provide the most appropriate response for the needs of the family and of the minors," he concluded.
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