Italy takes decisive action: Series of measures introduced; Draconian penalties for rioting and violence VIDEO

The measures include the preventive detention of minors, tougher penalties for organized violence, and the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers on the streets of the city.

The decree was adopted at the proposal of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, the Adnkronos news agency reports.

Under the new rules, minors aged 14 and over will be presumed to be legally responsible, meaning they will be considered capable of understanding the significance of their actions and controlling their behavior, unless proven otherwise.

The decree also provides for the possibility of the subsequent arrest of minors caught committing a criminal offense, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Administrative penalties may also be imposed on the parents or other individuals responsible for minors who commit certain offenses, including those who are not criminally liable, unless the responsible adults can prove that they were unable to prevent such behavior.

The decree also simplifies procedures for compensation. In cases involving damage to public property, the prefect will be able to issue a compensation order directly, while citizens who have suffered damage to private property will be able to obtain compensation more quickly.

To prevent violence at demonstrations, a new criminal offense of organized violence at public gatherings has been introduced. It applies to participation in a group of at least five people acting in an organized manner, even if only occasionally, who use or throw objects capable of causing injury or dangerous devices, thereby creating a concrete threat to public safety.

Stricter penalties are предусмотрed for the organizers and instigators of such groups, as well as for those who incite violence, including through information and communication technologies.

A specific aggravating circumstance has also been introduced for property damage committed by an organized group of at least five people. In addition, penalties have been increased for certain cases of vandalism, looting, and attacks on facilities of public importance during demonstrations.

For the aforementioned criminal offenses, the possibility of subsequent arrest is provided for under the conditions established by law. Injuries inflicted on judicial police officers or public security officials while performing their duties, or in connection with those duties, will be prosecuted ex officio.

Preventive measures also include the possibility of taking individuals into custody and holding them at a police station for up to 12 hours if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person may pose a threat to public safety. This measure, which has already been applied during demonstrations, is being extended to certain police operations in crowded public places. It may also apply to minors, while maintaining specific legal safeguards to protect them.

The Chief of Police will also be empowered to prohibit individuals from gathering with certain people at specifically designated locations for a period of up to one year.

This measure may also be applied to minors over the age of 14 who have participated in group intimidation or violence and who have previously been subject to preventive measures or convicted of criminal offenses against persons or property.

To ensure the timely judicial validation of arrests during events involving large numbers of detainees, an expedited procedure for assigning judges to the competent courts has been introduced.

Under the decree, the contingent of armed forces deployed as part of Operation “Safe Streets” to monitor the territory and support the police in Milan has been increased by 500 personnel until December 31, 2026.

Italy’s Prime Minister said on Tuesday that nearly 200 police officers had been injured during the unrest in Milan over the past several days, while the material damage was estimated at approximately €1 million.

According to her, the unrest primarily involved members of what she described as “the usual antagonistic fringe groups,” as well as hundreds of very young people, many of whom were minors.