Italy moves to let police hold minors for up to 12 hours amid weekend riots

Following several nights of rioting that saw hooded demonstrators, many identified as minors, torch bins and loot stores in Milan and elsewhere, Italy will adopt a new emergency decree. The decree permits police to hold anyone under 18 at a station for up to 12 hours even without a proven offence, provided there is evidence of a threat to public safety. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini emphasized the need for rapid intervention ahead of upcoming Saturday protests, noting online plans to target stores in Como.

The government also intends to station an extra 500 army personnel in Milan and to restrict young people from attending events or entering zones deemed risky. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has passed numerous security bills since taking office in 2022, faces criticism that these measures ignore deeper socioeconomic issues while the country grapples with rising energy costs and widening wealth gaps.