Meloni Tightens Security Laws, Parents Now Liable for Protest Damage Caused By Minors in Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has approved tougher security measures against protest-related violence, introducing financial liability for parents whose minor children cause damage, expanded police powers to detain teenagers and prison sentences of up to five years for violent rioters.

The measures took effect immediately on Tuesday, October 20, following a wave of unrest in northern Italian cities, including Milan, where groups of young people smashed shop windows, looted stores and attacked police officers.

Parents to Pay for Damage Caused by Children

Under the new measures, parents can be held financially responsible when their minor children damage public or private property during unrest. The government has framed the provision around the principle that those responsible for destruction must pay for it.

If public property, such as a bus shelter, traffic signal or police vehicle, is damaged, authorities can issue a payment order to recover the cost. In cases involving private property, such as shop windows, businesses or cars, the owner can approach a judge to seek an enforceable payment order.

The move places parental accountability at the centre of Italy’s latest crackdown on juvenile delinquency and public disorder. Supporters argue that the threat of financial consequences could encourage parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s conduct. Critics, however, question whether tougher penalties will address the social and economic factors contributing to youth unrest.

Violent Protesters Face Up to Five Years in Prison

The decree introduces a new offence covering violent participation in demonstrations. People who join groups of at least five and endanger public safety by throwing stones, firecrackers or sticks can face up to five years in prison and fines of up to €20,000 (around $22,460).

Penalties can increase if protesters conceal their faces or injure others. The government has also tightened punishments for collective acts of destruction.

Meloni defended the measures after the recent unrest, arguing that vandalism and theft cannot be justified as political protest.

Police Powers Extended to Teenagers

The new rules also allow police to detain young people aged 14 to 17, even when they have not committed a crime, if evidence indicates that they pose a danger. Previously, this preventive detention power applied only to adults.

The measures form part of a wider effort to strengthen public-order enforcement and respond to violent incidents involving young people. The government has also announced the deployment of 500 additional army troops alongside police in Milan until the end of 2026 to protect key locations and strengthen surveillance.

Unrest Deepens Pressure on Meloni Government

The security crackdown comes as Italy faces protests linked to rising fuel prices and the cost of living. Truck drivers in southern Italy have staged roadblocks, disrupting supply chains, while some pasta manufacturers have halted production and agricultural groups have warned of potential losses.

Meloni’s government has argued that economic hardship cannot excuse violence. Opposition voices, however, have questioned whether tougher punishments will resolve the underlying causes of public disorder.

The country’s rising prison population has added to the debate over the effectiveness of increasingly strict criminal penalties. With national elections due in 2027, the government faces pressure to demonstrate that its law-and-order policies can restore public confidence without overlooking the economic grievances driving unrest.