 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, which punishes "anyone who by any means prevents or disturbs a public or private political campaign meeting".This law was approved at a very turbulent moment in Italian politics.Disputes, some of which were violent, were the norm during rallies at the time.