Meloni approves by decree the preventive detention of minors and that they can be held accountable from the age of 14

The Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, has enacted a decree allowing preventive detention of minors and lowering criminal liability to 14 years. This decision follows violent incidents in Milan, where a significant number of those arrested were underage. The new measures include the ability to detain minors suspected of potential delinquency and impose penalties on parents for damages caused by their children. Additionally, a new crime of 'violent participation in a demonstration' has been introduced, punishable by up to five years in prison. However, President Sergio Mattarella has blocked Meloni's proposal to grant police powers to the military deployed in Milan, emphasizing that maintaining public order is the responsibility of police forces. Meloni argues that while protesting is a right, violence and destruction are criminal acts that must be met with a firm state response.