ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday her government had approved the deployment of 500 troops to Milan and tougher security measures following clashes and looting in the city and other urban centres over the weekend.
The measures include a new criminal offence of violent participation in demonstrations, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to 20,000 euros.
The government also plans to make it easier for police to detain minors in certain circumstances and hold parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children.
“Protesting is a right, devastating our cities is not,” Meloni said in a video posted on X after a cabinet meeting.
Manifestare è un diritto, devastare le nostre città no. Ecco le misure che abbiamo approvato per contrastare la violenza e tutelare la sicurezza dei cittadini. https://t.co/kqk51X8YZa
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) October 20, 2026
The government is preparing an emergency decree to bring the measures into force, Interior Undersecretary Nicola Molteni told broadcaster Radio 24.
The deployment of 500 troops in Milan is intended to support police until the end of the year.
Tougher Penalties for Protesters
Meloni said the new offence would target people who engage in violence during demonstrations.
“If, during a march or demonstration, you join a group of five or more people and begin throwing stones, firecrackers, or sticks — thereby endangering everyone’s safety — you face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 20,000 euros,” she said.
She added that penalties would increase if offenders covered their faces, injured someone or took part in group acts of destruction.
The government also plans to empower authorities to restrict young people from attending events or entering designated areas if there are grounds to believe they could threaten public safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said police would be allowed to hold people under 18 at police stations for up to 12 hours, even if they had not committed an offence, provided there was evidence that they posed a danger.
“We want to intervene quickly on young people,” Salvini told RTL radio before the cabinet meeting.
Parents to Pay for Damage Caused by Minors
Meloni also outlined a new approach to compensation for damage caused during unrest, saying parents could be held financially liable when their children were responsible.
“If you break it, you pay for it — and if the person who breaks it is a minor, their parents pay,” she said.
Under the proposed system, the prefect — a government-appointed official responsible for public order in a province — would issue a payment order to the home of those responsible for damage to public property, such as bus shelters, traffic lights and police vehicles.
For damage to private property, including shop windows, stores and cars, owners could seek an immediately enforceable court order, Meloni said.
She added that the orders could be challenged, but payment would be required in the meantime. Those who suffered damage could also seek recovery from the family’s assets, including funds owed to it by the state.
The measures follow disturbances in Milan and other Italian cities over the weekend. Several hundred hooded protesters set fire to rubbish bins and looted shops after demonstrations that had initially been peaceful.
The protests were linked to concerns over poor public services and rising living costs.
