Italy's law-and-order crackdowns under Meloni

Italy will approve a law-and-order package on Tuesday following days of unrest, adding to a series of security measures enacted under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since 2022. The new legislation targets demonstrators, looters, and property vandals. Previous measures include the 2022 Rave/Justice Decree, imposing up to six years in prison for illegal gatherings; the 2023 Cutro Decree, creating a crime with up to 30 years for migrant-related deaths; and the 2023 Caivano Decree, which increased juvenile detention and penalties for weapons and drug offences. A 2025 Security Decree added new crimes for squatting and road blockades. Under Meloni, Italy's prison population has risen by over 17%, or nearly 10,000 people, according to government data. The Caivano Decree alone triggered a 50% rise in juvenile inmates, per prisoners' rights group Antigone.