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Italy figures show increase in crime amid police cuts | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The number of crimes reported to police in Italy went up last year, according to figures released by the country's interior ministry. | |
There were big increases in burglaries, bag-snatching and shop theft. | |
The higher crime figures came out after police spending was cut as part of a harsh austerity programme. | |
Meanwhile, angry protests have been reported against plans to close a court in a crime-ridden part of southern Italy. | |
The biggest petty crime rise occurred in the Adriatic seaside resort of Rimini, where bag-snatching increased more than 100%. | |
House burglaries went up by a fifth, reaching a nationwide total of more than 200,000 last year. | |
Shop thefts increased faster than bank robberies, and the total number of crimes reported to police rose by more than 5%. | |
Police unions blame spending cuts totalling over $3.5bn (£2.2bn) on police services imposed by successive governments, our correspondent says. | |
Funeral bells | Funeral bells |
Under the spending cuts introduced by Italy's government, some 37 courts are due to close, including the one in Lucera, in Foggia province. | |
But the court sits in one of the most crime-ridden parts of southern Italy, reports the BBC's David Willey in Rome - and local residents have protested angrily. | But the court sits in one of the most crime-ridden parts of southern Italy, reports the BBC's David Willey in Rome - and local residents have protested angrily. |
The local bishop wrote a letter of protest to the president of Italy pleading: "Don't abandon us to the Mafia!" and ordered the muffled bells of his ancient cathedral to toll as at a funeral. | The local bishop wrote a letter of protest to the president of Italy pleading: "Don't abandon us to the Mafia!" and ordered the muffled bells of his ancient cathedral to toll as at a funeral. |
The public prosecutor, who has received death threats from Mafia bosses, angrily published his last will and testament. | The public prosecutor, who has received death threats from Mafia bosses, angrily published his last will and testament. |
At least 20 local mayors have handed in their tricolour mayoral sashes to show that they are ready to resign if the closure goes ahead. | At least 20 local mayors have handed in their tricolour mayoral sashes to show that they are ready to resign if the closure goes ahead. |
The sashes were given in to Foggia's prefect, along with thousands of electoral cards returned by citizens in protest. | The sashes were given in to Foggia's prefect, along with thousands of electoral cards returned by citizens in protest. |
They hope the protest will reach the minister of home affairs who could take the Tribunale di Lucera off the list of those earmarked for closure. | They hope the protest will reach the minister of home affairs who could take the Tribunale di Lucera off the list of those earmarked for closure. |
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