Credits: redattoresociale.it
In 2024, 34.7% of the individuals who were reported in Italy as detained or arrested were foreigners, with criminal activity being disproportionate from irregular immigrants, those without proper permissions or with expired permits. Irregular immigrants are a small subset of the foreign population, comprising only 5.6%, yet they account for 70% of crime among foreign nationals, according to the paper by Barbagli and Colombo (2011).
This subgroup's involvement in street crime is particularly alarming. More than 60% of public robberies were committed by foreign nationals, 61% of thefts from pedestrians (snatch theft), and 69% of thefts from the person (pickpocketing) were committed by foreign nationals. The total number of foreign nationals now living in Italy is increasing, numbering about 5.7 million in January 2024, making the impact of irregular immigrants on crime even more alarming in volume and likely as well.
Paolo Pinotti published research through Bocconi University that shows irregular immigrants are committing crimes primarily as a by-product of economic hardship and social isolation. By contrast, people who have received immigration approval and legal status have crime rates that are equal to that of Italians. Given the recent increase in irregular immigration, the crime problem in Italy is becoming even worse, calling for the required enforcement of strong measures for immigration control and to promote safety.
References :
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/furti-scippi-e-rapine-oltre-sei-arrestati-10-sono-stranieri-AHVXA3QD
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