STRICTER CONTROLS IN THE ST MARK’S AREA AND ST MARK’S SQUARE

The coordinated controls made by all the forces of order in the Square and surrounding areas were increased yesterday after a tourist was struck and injured by some illegal hawkers of bags fleeing from St Mark’s Square and the Mercerie on Saturday afternoon. Finally, on Sunday, no illegal African hawkers were seen and not even the dozens of others from Bangladesh with their flashing darts, roses etc. The Guardia di Finanza intervened with plain clothes patrols confiscating more than 500 articles and stopping seven unlicensed Bangladeshi hawkers for identification. This is a fight that must continue, as pointed out by the Associazione Piazza San Marco, which tirelessly denounces the illegal presence of these hawkers and, with the San Marco Guardians project, now hopes to safeguard the Square from decline, at the same time informing tourists of the behaviours to adopt to respect this priceless asset.