The Italian government has approved a new bill aimed at tackling youth gangs and violence in nightlife areas. One of the key measures introduces restrictions on public gatherings when groups of five or more people engage in intimidating, threatening or violent behaviour in public spaces. The provision is intended to combat violence, vandalism and urban disorder associated with youth gangs. The bill also extends the existing 12-hour preventive detention measure to minors whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe they may engage in conduct that threatens public safety, such as carrying weapons or other offensive objects. Traffic police officers will also be empowered to carry out preventive arrests, expanding their role beyond their traditional traffic enforcement duties. The legislation introduces a new aggravating circumstance for acts of vandalism committed by groups of five or more people, punishable by prison sentences ranging from one year and six months to five years, fines of up to €15,000, and the possibility of deferred arrest. Finally, assaults causing injury to police officers while performing their duties will now be prosecuted automatically, even in cases of minor injuries, rather than only following a formal complaint. The bill also introduces an aggravating circumstance for crimes committed against journalists.