Vandalism is criminality: Meloni makes parents liable for children's vandalism

Italy has approved a sweeping package of security measures, including prison terms for violent participation in demonstrations, tougher penalties for rioters and financial liability for parents whose children engage in vandalism and looting. The measures come after weekend unrest in northern Italian cities and will take effect immediately.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the decree on Tuesday, defending the crackdown by saying that vandalism and theft could not be justified as forms of protest.

"There is nothing revolutionary about vandalising and stealing. Vandalism and theft are not protest, they are criminality," Meloni said in a social media post.

The new rules introduce a prison term of up to five years and fines of up to €20,000 ($22,460) for anyone who participates in a group of at least five people that endangers public safety during a demonstration. Penalties will be tougher if protesters conceal their faces or injure people.

Authorities will also be able to order prompt compensation for damage caused during unrest. When minors are responsible for vandalism or looting, their parents will be held financially liable.

The legislation also expands police powers to detain teenagers aged between 14 and 17, even if they have not committed a crime, provided there is evidence that they pose a danger. Such powers previously applied only to adults.

500 ARMY TROOPS TO BE DEPLOYED IN MILAN

The crackdown follows disturbances across northern Italy at the weekend, including in Milan, the country's financial capital, where groups of mainly young people went on the rampage, smashing windows, looting shops and attacking police.

With authorities anticipating possible further unrest during demonstrations planned for Saturday, the government has announced the deployment of 500 army troops alongside police in Milan until the end of 2026.

The defence ministry said the military would reinforce security at key sites, increase surveillance of sensitive locations and strengthen monitoring across the area.

The measures are part of Meloni's broader security drive since she took office in 2022. Her government has introduced a series of tougher laws, drawing criticism from opponents who argue that punitive measures fail to address the underlying causes of crime and disorder.

Italy's prison population has increased by more than 17% over four years, or nearly 10,000 inmates, according to government data.

RISING COSTS FUEL PROTESTS ACROSS ITALY

The unrest in northern Italy comes as the government faces a separate wave of protests in the south, where truck drivers have staged roadblocks over soaring diesel prices and the rising cost of living, disrupting supply chains.

Some pasta manufacturers have been forced to halt production, while agricultural groups have warned that fruit and vegetables could be left to rot because of transport disruptions.

The government has promised fresh assistance to road hauliers following talks with industry representatives.

Protesters in both the north and south say rising prices are pushing families into poverty, creating another challenge for Meloni ahead of national elections scheduled for 2027.

The prime minister acknowledged the economic pressures facing households but insisted that financial hardship could not justify violence.

"We know what it means to look for a job, to earn an insufficient wage, and to see no prospects for the future ... but hardship must never be used as an excuse for violence," Meloni said on Tuesday.

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