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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Brawling drinkers ruin la dolce vita in historic Roman piazza | Brawling drinkers ruin la dolce vita in historic Roman piazza |
| (30 days later) | |
| Residents of one of Rome's most beautiful and historic piazzas say they are fighting a rising tide of violent, alcohol-fuelled crime as the area's craftsmen are priced out of the area by late night bars offering cheap shots. | Residents of one of Rome's most beautiful and historic piazzas say they are fighting a rising tide of violent, alcohol-fuelled crime as the area's craftsmen are priced out of the area by late night bars offering cheap shots. |
| In the latest incident in and around Campo de' Fiori, police arrested a group of Filipino youths on Sunday morning after young Italian was pushed to the ground and badly beaten outside a nightclub. | In the latest incident in and around Campo de' Fiori, police arrested a group of Filipino youths on Sunday morning after young Italian was pushed to the ground and badly beaten outside a nightclub. |
| Earlier this month police officers seeking to separate a group of brawling drinkers were themselves set upon, and officers were also called in to break up a drunken fight involving British and American tourists in July. | Earlier this month police officers seeking to separate a group of brawling drinkers were themselves set upon, and officers were also called in to break up a drunken fight involving British and American tourists in July. |
| "We find violent drunks on our front steps when we get home, the noise is driving us mad and many residents are abandoning the area," said Gemma Mezza, whose apartment looks on to the square. | "We find violent drunks on our front steps when we get home, the noise is driving us mad and many residents are abandoning the area," said Gemma Mezza, whose apartment looks on to the square. |
| The recent trend for heavy drinking among Italian teenagers is on display nightly as groups of young Romans mingle with tourists outside the piazza's burgeoning bars. | The recent trend for heavy drinking among Italian teenagers is on display nightly as groups of young Romans mingle with tourists outside the piazza's burgeoning bars. |
| "We have imported the Anglo-Saxon habit of drinking and there is a real increase in alcoholism and drug taking," said Giorgio Ciardi, head of security at Rome city council. | "We have imported the Anglo-Saxon habit of drinking and there is a real increase in alcoholism and drug taking," said Giorgio Ciardi, head of security at Rome city council. |
| Originally a meadow in the middle ages, hence the name meaning field of flowers, the picturesque square hosts a daily fruit and vegetable market and is surrounded by a network of narrow streets named after trades originally practised there, including makers of crossbows, keys and hats. But, said local activist Viviana Di Capua: "The craftsmen and small shops who had survived are being chased out by the rising rents. This is now a bar district." | Originally a meadow in the middle ages, hence the name meaning field of flowers, the picturesque square hosts a daily fruit and vegetable market and is surrounded by a network of narrow streets named after trades originally practised there, including makers of crossbows, keys and hats. But, said local activist Viviana Di Capua: "The craftsmen and small shops who had survived are being chased out by the rising rents. This is now a bar district." |
| Ciardi said the police were tightening controls on drunken violence, including a ban on pub crawls, but admitted that the bars were bringing out the worst in young Romans. | Ciardi said the police were tightening controls on drunken violence, including a ban on pub crawls, but admitted that the bars were bringing out the worst in young Romans. |
| "I see no difference in behaviour between rich youths and poor, everyone has sunk to the same low level," he said. | "I see no difference in behaviour between rich youths and poor, everyone has sunk to the same low level," he said. |
| In December 2010, a group of teenagers from wealthy backgrounds beat up a gay man in the piazza and stabbed him in the neck with a broken glass. | In December 2010, a group of teenagers from wealthy backgrounds beat up a gay man in the piazza and stabbed him in the neck with a broken glass. |
| In another episode of homophobic violence, a gay man was followed out of the square in June and beaten by five men in their 20s. | In another episode of homophobic violence, a gay man was followed out of the square in June and beaten by five men in their 20s. |
| "We need to reopen some of the cinemas which have closed down in Rome's historic centre and increase the number of cultural events so that drinking is not the only form of entertainment," said Di Capua. | "We need to reopen some of the cinemas which have closed down in Rome's historic centre and increase the number of cultural events so that drinking is not the only form of entertainment," said Di Capua. |
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