Student protester charged with sexual assault after photo of her kissing riot police officer

SOURCE Daily Mirror

The 20-year-old was photographed kissing Salvatore Piccione’s visor during a planned protest against a high speed rail link in Italy

kiss and tell: Nina De Chiffre was arrested after this went viral

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A student protester was charged with sexual assault after this photo of her kissing a riot police officer’s helmet went viral.

Nina De Chiffre, 20, kissed officer Salvatore Piccione during a protest against a high-speed rail link in Northern Italy.

The photo of her kissing his visor went viral on social media sites and was seen by many as a symbol for peaceful protests.

But rather than agreeing, COISP, a union representing Italian police officers, complained about it to Turin prosecutors.

Franco Maccari, the union’s general secretary, told news site La Repubblica: “We have accused the protester of sexual violence and insulting a public official.

“If the policeman had kissed her, World War III would have broken out.”

He added: “Or what if I had patted her on the behind? She would have been outraged. So if she does that to a man on duty, should it be tolerated?.”

He went on to say the kiss was “disrespectful” in this context.

Ms De Chiffre had also reportedly licked her fingers and touched Mr Piccione’s mouth at the time.

Mr Piccione told The Local: “When I’m wearing my uniform I represent the police institution, and I have an obligation not to react to provocation.”

Ms De Chiffre posted the photo on her Facebook page on Saturday with the caption: “Politicians are pigs”.