Italian PM announces stricter anti-riot laws after peaceful protests turn violent

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has approved new security measures after hundreds people wearing hoods crashed initially peaceful protests, leading to clashes with police, rioting and looting.

The new legislation targets minors as well as adults and includes financial liability for damaged public and personal property.

” … preventive detention, which until now applied only to adults, will also be extended to minors,” Meloni said.

Meloni also announced the government will be “strengthening the juvenile justice system” by providing more magistrates and places in detention facilities.

Meloni announced 500 additional military personnel would be deployed to Milan until the end of the year.

According to Meloni, much of the violence was caused by “young people” who “took to the streets to smash things, steal and film themselves doing it” after being inspired by social media.

Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has passed a number of security crackdowns that many critics claim are ineffective at addressing the underlying causes of crime.

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