‘I hope they deport us’: Kate Langbroek opens up about her clash with Italian police
Iso-life in Italy is taking its toll on Aussie broadcaster Kate Langbroek, who has opened about heated run-ins with cops during lockdown.
Confidential
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Broadcaster Kate Langbroek has adopted aggressive tactics after a heated run-in with Italian police during lockdown in Bologna.
Langbroek, who lives in the Italian city with husband Pete Lewis and their four children, was questioned by police while walking to a store to buy Easter eggs for her kids.
It followed an earlier incident where Pete was slapped with a notice, saying he’s “being sued by police,” for riding his bicycle.
“We’re not in isolation like you guys are in isolation,” Langbroek told FOX FM radio hosts Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee.
“We’re not allowed to exercise in pairs, we’re not allowed to go outside. We are in solitary confinement, basically, except with six of us. The only reason you’re allowed to go out is to get groceries.
“Anyway, on Good Friday, Peter and I realised that Easter bunny had to come on Sunday. We try to keep things nice.”
She said Lewis was cautious about going outside after getting pulled over by cops for riding his bike.
“They held him up for 40 minutes, they basically interrogated him, and gave him a piece of paper, which he signed, even though it was in Italian, and he couldn’t understand it, which said he’s being sued by the police,” Langbroek said.
“I laughed and said: ‘Good, I hope they deport us. It’s the only way we can get out of here.’”
While walking to get Easter eggs, Lewis and Langbroek were stopped by police.
“Italians have that knack,” Langbroek said.
“They can look at us and know we are not Italian.”
The police officers told the couple they were not allowed to be outside together.
Langbroek and Lewis said they were walking to shops to buy food.
“I was so annoyed,” Langbroek said. “I hate the one size fits all rule. I said: ‘I’ve got four children at home, that’s a lot of food, that’s a lot of carrying on my own. They were a bit surprised by how aggressive I was.
“They respect that attitude because it’s the attitude of an Italian woman. They’re quite forthright.”
Langbroek added: “I’d been day drinking.”
She continued her journey to the shops, and Lewis “slunk” home.
“That’s my new strategy,” Langbroek said. “I’m going to be aggressive.”