The
General Investigations and Special Operations Division , generally known by its acronym
DIGOS, is an Italian
law enforcement agency charged with investigating sensitive cases involving
terrorism,
organized crime and serious offences such as
kidnapping and
extortion. It is a special operational division of
Polizia di Stato, territorially organized within each provincial police headquarters (called
Questura). It is responsible to the national Central Police Directorate for Crime Prevention (,
DCPP), which is a part of the Public Safety Department of the
Interior Ministry. The DIGOS, which has an Office in each provincial headquarters, or
Questura, of the Polizia di Stato acts as its Intelligence branch. 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 phenomenons the DIGOS periodically reports to the Minister of Interior and to the Head of Police. Such activity is strongly assisted by the peculiar and specially trained infiltration units belonging to DIGOS that constantly enrich such reports and investigations with "inside views" of the various phenomenons (hence the "special operations" part of the acronym
General Investigations and Special Operations Division or DIGOS). 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).