A series of measures to protects tourists from pickpockets and fake porters are being implemented at Rome Termini train station effective August.
The measures were announced by Rome mayor Ignazio Marino last week during a meeting with the Committee for Public Order and Safety held in the offices of the railway police of Rome.
Billboards and videos to warn tourists of the “dangers” they may run into while at the station are set to be installed. Furthermore, barriers will be installed at the beginning of platforms to allow access only to passengers with a ticket, a measure that should help protect travelers from fake porters. A similar measure is already in place at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella train station, and Termini itself had such barriers up until the beginning of the 1980s.
In the last months, there have also been reports of gypsies “helping” tourists at the station’s electronic ticket machines only to demand money, and of people offering to help load luggage onto the train to then request a “tip” or removing luggage just before the train departs.
The new measures also include a larger number of police and Carabinieri patrolling the station inside and outside.
