Italy Delays New Security Law as Disputes Focus on Knives and Youth Crime
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Italy’s government is taking more time to finalise a new national security decree, as internal disagreements persist over how tough the measures should be, particularly on knife crime and offences committed by minors. Officials say at least another ten days are needed before the package can be approved by the cabinet.
The draft law is meant to respond to rising public concern about street violence, especially incidents involving knives carried by teenagers and young adults. While the government agrees on the need to act, it is still trying to align different views within the ruling coalition on how far the crackdown should go.
At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, ministers discussed whether all the proposed measures should be bundled into an emergency decree or split between fast-track legislation and a standard parliamentary bill.
Knife crime at the centre of the debate
One of the main points of contention is how to deal with knives. The draft includes harsher penalties for carrying knives in public, broader powers for police to carry out checks in so-called high-risk areas, and tighter rules on the sale of bladed weapons.
Several ministers argue that knives have become the weapon of choice in street fights and school-related violence, making them a priority for immediate action. The goal, according to government sources, is deterrence: making it clear that carrying a knife, even without using it, will carry serious consequences.
Critics, however, warn that tougher penalties alone may not reduce violence and risk sweeping up young people without addressing why they are carrying knives in the first place.
How to deal with minors remains unresolved
The most sensitive issue concerns minors involved in violent crime, including those caught carrying knives. The League, one of the coalition partners, is pushing for stricter rules, particularly for foreign minors, including faster deportation procedures in serious cases.
These proposals have not yet been agreed by the full coalition. Some ministers are cautious, pointing to legal limits and concerns about children’s rights, while others argue that public confidence in the justice system depends on showing firmness, regardless of age.
Opposition parties accuse the government of focusing too heavily on punishment and not enough on prevention, such as school programmes, youth services and social support. They also warn that some measures could face constitutional challenges if they restrict personal freedoms too broadly.
Officials say the government is aiming to reach a compromise that allows it to move quickly without triggering legal or political backlash. The revised text is expected to return to the cabinet within ten days, after which it would go to the president for review and then to parliament.
For now, the delay reflects a familiar tension in Italian politics: balancing public demand for tougher security measures with legal safeguards, coalition unity and the long-term question of how to deal with youth violence before it escalates.
