The fight against crime in Italy

After the decision by the Italian government to have 3,000 soldiers patrol several large cities, the Financial Times comments on crime statistics in Italy and government shortfalls in the fight against corruption: "United Nations and European Union studies indicate that Italy's crime rates are below the European average. Romans might be surprised to find they are safer than residents of London, Copenhagen or Amsterdam. ... Although Italy compares well with its European peers in terms of violent crime, evidence suggests that on corruption it is among the worst offenders. Italy ranks 40th on Transparency International's global corruption index. ... Fighting corruption did not figure highly in Italy's elections. On this front the two most noteworthy acts of the Berlusconi government's first months in office have been to pass a law giving the prime minister and three other top officials immunity from prosecution, and to dissolve the office of the high commissioner against corruption."

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