Share

June 29, 2020 The lockdown was an exceptional event that affected the general trend of crime in Italy, with an overall reduction in crimes committed of 61% (175,693) in the period March 1 - May 10, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 (447,537 ). This is indicated by the data of the second 2020 report of the Permanent Monitoring and Analysis Body set up at the Central Directorate of Criminal Police (Criminalpol) and published by the Interior Ministry.

Not yet consolidated data that allow a reading of the behavior of widespread and organized crime in an unprecedented period. In general, there is an important decrease in the so-called predatory crimes, such as thefts and robberies, which particularly affect the perception of security, reports the Observatory.

The most significant
decrease is that of crimes against assets (-44.89%) Starting from the macro areas, the most significant decrease is that of crimes against assets (-44.89%), within which counterfeiting stands out ( -83%), thefts (-74%) and robberies (-63%). Thefts in homes (-76%) and in commercial establishments (-68%) decreased. Thefts and robberies, in the period considered, concentrated on the commercial activities that remained open, such as small and large food distribution, pharmacies, newsagents and tobacconists. 

"Special surveillance" also the scams
"Special surveillance" also the scams, which although decreasing (-48%) in the acute phase of the pandemic, took advantage of the particular emergency context: from commercial fraud, with the sale of health protection devices (masks, gloves, disinfectants) at exorbitant or non-compliant prices, online scams such as smishing, sending sms on smartphones with requests for aid or promises of economic utility - leveraging the economic crisis - in exchange for personal and credit card data, reported several times by the Postal and Communications Police.

Also fell crimes against the person
also crimes against the person were down: among others, -66% sexual violence, child pornography -58%, -56% voluntary homicide. As regards drug-related offenses - these also fell by 28%, with production and traffic, specifically decreased by 37% - new forms of drug dealing emerged masked, for example, by food delivery (drug dealers - drivers with door-to-door delivery and, sometimes, use of apps and electronic payments) or by car sharing. Lastly, high attention should be paid to the mafia danger with regard to environmental crimes, in particular linked to construction and waste disposal.

Environmental pollution decreased by 82.4%, but illicit combustion rose by 8.4%
Environmental pollution decreased by 82.4%, and the activities organized for the illicit trafficking of waste fell by 70.8%, but illicit combustion rose 8.4%. On the disposal front, the Carabinieri have launched specific investigations on the cycle of special sanitary waste.