Running, high jump, push-ups and checks to rule out vertigo and claustrophobia: selection trials for San Marino’s police forces got underway at the Serravalle stadium, with 12 positions up for grabs in the first phase of the competition.
Specifically, the recruitment drive will bring in 5 gendarmes, 2 Fortress Guards (Guardia di Rocca) and 5 Civil Police officers. For candidates, the first hurdle is the physical testing stage, which they must pass in order to move on to the next phase.
Those who clear the tests will go on to take part in a 60-hour specialist training course, culminating in a final examination.
Also attending the trials in Serravalle was the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs, Andrea Belluzzi, who highlighted the changes introduced to the recruitment procedures.
“These are the same tests used by police forces across Europe to assess the physical and psychological fitness of their candidates,” Belluzzi explained, stressing San Marino’s commitment to aligning with European standards.
The government’s goal is to strengthen the ranks of law enforcement by focusing on preparation and operational efficiency, through more modern selection criteria and a dedicated training pathway.
This is not simply about replacing personnel, then, but about enhancing the response capacity of the country’s three police corps, which are increasingly called upon to tackle more complex security and public order challenges.
