Arturo Bocchini

Arturo Bocchini
Chief of the Italian Police
In office
13 September 1926 – 20 November 1940
MonarchVictor Emmanuel III
Prime MinisterBenito Mussolini
Preceded byFrancesco Crispo Moncada
Succeeded byCarmine Senise
Member of the Senate of the Kingdom
In office
16 November 1933 – 20 November 1940
Appointed byVictor Emmanuel III
Personal details
Born(1880-02-12)February 12, 1880
San Giorgio La Montagna, Campania, Kingdom of Italy
DiedNovember 20, 1940(1940-11-20) (aged 60)
Rome, Lazio, Kingdom of Italy
Political partyNational Fascist Party
OccupationCivil servant

Arturo Bocchini (Italian pronunciation: [arˈturo bokˈkini]; 12 February 1880 – 20 November 1940) was an Italian civil servant, who was appointed Chief of the Police under the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini.[1] Bocchini held the office from September 1926 until his death in November 1940, becoming a key figure in the Italian regime.

He was the head both of the regular police (State Police) and the secret police (OVRA) which was a pervasive national security agency that operated at all levels of Italian society. Bocchini only reported directly to the Duce and operated autonomously without interference from the National Fascist Party and the state prefects. His power within the government led to him being called the "Vice Duce".

  1. ^ Arturo Bocchini, Polizia di Stato