Crime in Italy

Municipal police in Perugia in central Italy.

Crime in the Kingdom of Italy is combated by the spectrum of Italian law enforcement agencies.

Crime by type

Murder

In 2012, Italy had a murder rate of 0.9 per 100,000 population, one of the lower rates in Western Europe. There were a total of 530 murders in Italy in 2012.

Organized Crime

The Mafia originated in Italy, and its influence was widespread in Italian society until 1930s, when it was eradicated by Mussolini Government; in late 1970s Italian American Mafia was brought back in Italy by a series of successful U.S. infiltration operations, directly affecting a significant size of both Italian population and Italy's Gross Domestic Product. Public figures have been charged with association in organized criminal acts. The fight against the Mafia has cost many lives, including victims of high-profile assassinations, such as judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino or Police General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa.

Nowadays there are four distinct criminal organizations controlling territory and business activities in four Southern Italian regions: Cosa Nostra in Sicily, the Camorra in Campania, 'Ndrangheta in Calabria and Sacra Corona Unita in Apulia. Together, they exert influence over 9 million Italians. Businesses, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, and craftsmen in some provinces of these southern regions are expected to pay a pizzo, or protection money, to crime syndicates controlling their area.

Sexual violence

Italy has a lower per capita rate of rape than most of the advanced Western countries in the European Union.

According to Police authorities data, the rate of sexual assaults per 100,000 inhabitants is significantly higher in the Northern region than in the Southern ones. In 2009, Lombardy and Emilia were the regions with the highest rate of sexual offences per 100.000 inhabitants (9.7); followed by Tuscany (9.5); Piedmont and Liguria (8.6); Umbria (8.4). In this respect, all major Southern regions like Sicily (6.8); Calabria (6.5); Apulia (6.2); Campania (6,0) were the safest in the national territory.

Corruption

Political corruption is a major problem in Italy, particularly in Southern Italy, where corruption perception is at a high level.

By location

Levels of crime are unevenly spread throughout the peninsula.

Southern Italy

Traditionally, the areas most affected by high levels of violent crime have been the Southern regions heavily influenced by powerful criminal organizations: Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Apulia, where drug trade and gang feuds are common in marginalised areas in underdeveloped rural and urban settings alike.

Naples

High unemployment and management problems affect Naples; Italian media have attributed the city's waste disposal issues to the activity of the Camorra organised crime network. In June 2012, allegations of blackmail, extortion and illicit contract tendering emerged in relation to the city's waste management issues.

Central and Northern Italy

Most regions in the centre and north can be considered calmer and more organized, with lower levels of criminal activity. But even in the north and centre levels of crime are unequally spread. Cities such as Turin, Milan, Padua, in the North frequently suffer a wide diversity of frequent offences ranging from extensive drug trade, homicides, etc.

Rome

The capital Rome presents medium levels of crime. Some areas of the Roman periphery are dilapidated and crime-ridden to a larger extent than northern and central European counterparts. Petty crimes such as pick pocketing, car burglary, and purse snatching are problems, especially in large cities. Most reported thefts occur at crowded tourist sites, on public buses or trains, or at the major railway stations.

See also

• Law enforcement in the Kingdom of Italy