Italy cracks down on youth violence with tougher knife laws and police powers

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has implemented a stringent new security package aimed at curbing youth violence and weapon-related offenses. Following recent high-profile incidents, such as the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old student by a classmate, the reforms include stricter knife laws, expanded police powers, and longer detention periods during protests.

The package enhances regulations on carrying knives and bladed objects. Anyone found with a blade longer than eight centimeters without valid justification now faces up to three years in prison. The government has also granted police and courts broader authority to detain individuals deemed a threat to public order for up to twelve hours during demonstrations.

Legal protections for officers have been extended, especially in cases where weapons are used in self-defense while on duty. Meloni defended the changes, asserting they provide stronger tools to combat rising crime across the country.

Opposition figures, including Angelo Bonelli, have criticized the measures as overly repressive. Critics argue they infringe on constitutional rights, particularly the freedom to protest. The debate follows earlier public backlash against the presence of ICE agents at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with Milan seeing protests under the slogan 'ICE OUT' and Mayor Giuseppe Sala labeling the agency 'a militia that kills'. Left-wing groups demonstrated outside the Lombardy regional council, while a German petition gathered nearly 83,000 signatures demanding a ban on ICE agents traveling in the EU.

The new security laws introduce harsher penalties for weapon possession and wider police powers. Authorities will now have greater flexibility to detain suspects during protests and protect officers facing investigations. The measures come as part of a broader push to address violent crime, though opposition groups continue to challenge their legality and impact.