Italy sees attacks on prison guard and school principal raising safety concerns

In Taranto, a prison superintendent of the Polizia Penitenziaria was assaulted by an inmate while delivering a disciplinary notice. The officer suffered facial injuries and was treated at a hospital before being released with a short prognosis. The prison union SAPPE linked the incident to chronic overcrowding, staffing shortages, and a rising number of assaults on penitentiary staff, calling for a reduction in inmate numbers and additional personnel.

On the island of Procida, the headteacher of the Francesco Caracciolo‑Giovanni Da Procida school was beaten by a school administrative employee during end‑of‑year exam voting. The assault followed a dispute over a missing mobile phone, and police officers who intervened were also struck. The principal was taken to emergency care and discharged with a ten‑day prognosis, while the Carabinieri opened an investigation.

Both episodes underscore growing concerns about the safety of public‑service workers in Italy.