Overview

• Venice police have detained over 150 alleged pickpockets under 14 this year but cannot prosecute minors under Italian law.
• Current statutes require a victim’s formal complaint and presence at trial, leading many cases to be dismissed when tourists fail to appear.
• Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and national undersecretaries are reviewing legislative changes to allow detention and prosecution of underage offenders.
• Citizen activists led by Monica Poli’s Cittadini Non Distratti continue publicly shaming suspected pickpockets due to perceived legal inaction.
• Vigilante efforts have sometimes resulted in violent assaults on innocent bystanders, underscoring the dangers of community-driven enforcement.