Italy tightens protest laws with new violent assembly crime

The Italian government has approved a decree introducing new measures to combat violent protests, including a new crime of violent participation in demonstrations, a ban on assembly for individuals deemed dangerous, and preventive detention for minors. The decree also establishes the crime of group vandalism with arrest within 48 hours, and holds parents financially responsible for damage caused by minors. Preventive detention now applies to anyone causing disorder in crowded places, not just during public demonstrations. Following an exception by the Quirinale, 500 soldiers deployed to Milan will not have judicial police powers, meaning they can identify individuals but not arrest them. New resources are allocated to law enforcement, funded partly by the €7.2 billion European defense allowance.