It is a special operational division of Polizia di Stato, territorially organized within each provincial police headquarters (called Questura).
Through "general investigations" aimed at having a constant eye on the evolution on national soil of social unrest, political underground movements and sports-related violent phenomena the DIGOS periodically reports to the Minister of Interior and to the Head of Police.
Special training of such units involves classes on local slang, specific environment habits and social camouflage along with prior real-life experiences as a selection preference.
[3] Interventions carried out by the DIGOS are usually justified by an attempt to quell provocation and to ensure that incidents do not occur, according to a very broad interpretation of a law dating to 1948,[4] which punishes "anyone who by any means prevents or disturbs a public or private political campaign meeting".
On other occasions, members of the DIGOS have been criticised for their disproportionate interventions to repress an effective threat, including through the use of force, which are claimed to have caused material damages, physical injury and the unjustified limitation of freedom of movement.