The head of Italy's criminal lawyers
association told ANSA Tuesday that the governments new red zones
at crowded nightlife central areas in major cities over the New
Year and beyond posed a potential threat to personal liberties.
"The safety of cities must be protected and promoted, but the
strategies adopted in this area must escape the logic of pure
communication and illiberal developments," said the president of
the Italian Criminal Chambers, Francesco Petrelli.
"The establishment of red zones is instead a manifesto
initiative of dubious utility for the safety of citizens and of
dubious legitimacy that risks determining dangerous compressions
for the rights of freedom of the person in a security key and
instead of increasing more efficient and widespread forms of
control of the territories by the police forces, it imposes a
sort of progressive militarization of the urban fabric".
Italy is setting up 'red zones' in major cities to bar dangerous
individuals, starting in Florence and Bologna and running in
Milan from New year's Eve until the end of March, the interior
ministry said Monday.
The Viminale said Minister Matteo Piantedosi has sent a
directive to prefects to underline the importance of
identifying, with specific ordinances, urban areas where the
presence of dangerous individuals or those with criminal records
can be banned and their removal can be ordered.
The Viminale has indicated, also in view of New Year's Eve, the
measures for railway stations and surrounding areas, but also
drug dealing areas and other urban areas, such as nightlife
areas, characterized by a high concentration of people.
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