Council of Europe Urges Italy to Investigate Alleged Police Racism

Strasbourg: The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has urged the Italian government to scrutinize claims of racism within its police forces. The call to action was made on Wednesday as part of the commission’s annual report presentation.

According to Ansa News Agency, ECRI President Bertil Cottier recommended that the Italian government initiate an independent study to evaluate the extent of racial profiling in its police forces. The aim of this study would be to thoroughly assess the situation and address any underlying issues.

ECRI Vice President Tena Simonovic Einwalter highlighted a growing trend of racial profiling by police across several European countries. She explained that police officers often stop individuals based on characteristics such as skin color, presumed identity, or religion, which contravenes European values.