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Since taking office, the executive led by Giorgia Meloni has placed security and the protection of public order at the core of its platform. Through organic legislative action—which over time has taken shape in landmark measures such as the Cutro Decree, the Caivano Decree, and the urban security policy package—the government has outlined a clear strategy: to reaffirm the presence of the State and restore legality in contexts of potential decay or unlawfulness.
Analyzing the rationale and application of this body of law reveals several key strengths that characterize the new security model.
- The Response to Youth Delinquency and the “Caivano Model” Intervention One of the fundamental pillars of government action has been the fight against juvenile crime and social decay in the suburbs.
- Prevention and Firmness: The extension of the urban Daspo (banning order) to minors over the age of 14 and the toughening of measures against the illegal carrying of bladed weapons or offensive objects have provided administrative and judicial authorities with immediate tools to curb gang dynamics and petty crime.
- The Integrated Approach: The “Caivano Model” was not limited solely to criminal repression; it combined the strengthening of law enforcement presence with resources allocated to the redevelopment of sports, educational, and social infrastructure. Furthermore, the role of the family was emphasized by introducing financial and criminal penalties for parents who neglect their obligation to ensure their children’s school attendance.
- Protection of Law Enforcement and Staffing Enhancement The decrees marked a drastic shift in protecting those who guarantee citizens’ safety.
PILLARS OF OPERATIONAL PROTECTION ► Increased penalties for threats, injuries, or violence against public officials
► Legal protections and functional guarantees for active-duty personnel
► Extraordinary hiring plan and unblocking of staff turnover
► Funds for video surveillance systems and Local Police equipment
Strengthening the perception of legal protection for police officers, Carabinieri, and prison officers has restored centrality to the role of law enforcement, accompanying this with a substantial plan of extraordinary recruitment to address staffing shortages.
- Crackdown on Illegal Squatting and Protection of Property Among the points most appreciated by the public is the firm stance against the unlawful occupation of private and public properties.
- Faster Evictions: The introduction of accelerated eviction procedures has allowed rightful owners to regain possession of their homes significantly faster than in the past.
- Deterrence for Street Crimes: The new criminal classification for phenomena such as pickpocketing/theft by stealth (specifically targeting credit cards and electronic devices) and stiffer penalties for scams targeting the elderly directly address the petty crime that plagues major cities and public transport.
- Flux Management and Firmness Against Human Trafficking Regarding illegal immigration, the Meloni Government focused on a model that combines criminal severity towards criminal organizations with the acceleration of deportation procedures for dangerous individuals.
- The Guiding Principle: Very severe penalties for human traffickers and stricter border controls, balanced by the opening of legal and transparent entry channels established through the flow decree (Decreto Flussi).
The decrees increased statutory penalties for human smugglers (scafisti) and streamlined the process for removing foreign nationals deemed a threat to national security from the country.
A Deterrence-Oriented Approach The main added value of this era of Security Decrees lies in having reaffirmed the principle that legality is the precondition for freedom and social cohesion. By increasing the likelihood of sanctions and conferring greater intervention powers to Prefects and Police Chiefs (Questori) across the territory, these measures aimed to reverse the perception of impunity, returning a tangible State presence to citizens in train stations, public squares, and urban areas most at risk of degradation.
Prof. Giuseppe Arnone