Guardia di Finanza

The Story of the Revenue Guard Corps. The birth of the Revenue Guard Corps dates back to October 1774, when the ‘Legion Light Troops’ was constituted at the behest of Vittorio Amedeo III, king of Sardinia. After the unification of Italy, the various Guard Corps of the ceased Italian States merged in ‘Customs Guard Corps’, constituted in 1862 for border guard, as well as, in war time, used for defending the State. By the law 8th April 1881, n. 149, the Guard Corps had the denomination of ‘Revenue Guard Corps’, with the function «…to prevent, repress and denounce contraband and any infringement and violation to the laws and rules of finance…», to protect the interest of the Administration Financial and contribute to public order defence and public security. In 1906, an independent set of rules was granted to the Corps by constitution of General Command and, on the territory, by Commands of Legion. In 1907, was extended to the Corps the use of five-pointed stars, common symbol of affiliation to the Armed Forces. During the two World Wars, the ‘Fiamme Gialle’(the Yellow Flames) paid a great contribution of blood by 4,209 victims, in an attempt to help Jewish refugees and people persecuted by Nazi-Fascist. Even in peace time, the Corps demonstrated altruism and Solidarity giving rescue to the population in emergency due to the event of major natural disasters. A great boost to modernisation of the Corps was given during the second post-War period: between 1952 and 1954 were established the Statistical Service, equipped with a data centre, the Air Service and the Canine Service. Later, the Law n. 189 1959 has re-modulated the Corps institutional tasks, successively adapted by sectorial measures, attribution of specific competences. Cornerstone in the story of the ‘Fiamme Gialle’ is the Law 3th June 2010, n. 79, that it has predicted the possibility of appointing the Revenue Guard Corps General Commander among the ranks of own Army Corps Generals. From the first of January 2017, the Revenue Guard Corps has become, by virtue of Legislative Decree 19th August 2016, n. 177 and as part of the safety system defined by Law 1th April 1981, n. 121, the only one Police Force on the sea. Beginning with 21st November 2017, then, the School of Finance Police has changed the denomination in School of Economic-Tax Police and, from the 1st January 2018, the Nucleus Tax Police has taken the name of Nucleus of Economic-Tax Police (Legislative Decree 29th May 2017, n. 95). In the recent past, the international dimension of functions of the Revenue Guard Corps has been enhanced through the employment, with assistance tasks, consulting and training, of local police in various Countries around the world (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Haiti and Libya), both within NATO, contributing to the Peace Support Operations (PSO) and peace-keeping operations and international co-operations, promoted by the ONU or the European Union. Further evidence of projection abroad of the ‘Fiamme Gialle’ is the secondment of Officers that has taken place at the most important Italian diplomatic representatives and the main community institutions. The Revenue Guard Corps, moreover, is currently present in Albania, with the Bilateral Assistance Mission to the Albanian Police.

Reasons for assigning the Award

Since its foundation on 5th October 1774 the Revenue Guard Corps, over two and half centuries, has set up, in war and in peace, a constant reference point to national community, always distinguishing itself for proficiency, united to memorable deeds of valour, and for the continuous citizenship safeguard, beginning from the foundation to achieve success recently obtained in the fight against any infringement and violation to the laws and the rules of finance to contribute to the order defence and public security. The Revenue Guard Corps has always demonstrated altruism and It has operated and goes on doing so providing assistance to the population in the event of major natural disasters, in the health consumers protection and in the supervision on compliance of legislation to protect work.Currently, utmost professionalism and wise use of the most advanced technologies blend within the Revenue Guard Corps with the historical and traditional gifts of humanity and steady closeness to the needs of citizen, in the international dimension as well, by the employment, with support responsibilities, consulting and training, of local Police in countries around the world, both as part NATO and in activities promoted by ONU or European Union.