Cracking Down: the Rom Problem, illegal Immigration, and Crime
44 viewsRecently the news here in Italy has been carrying reports on what amounts to a crack down on the Rom or gypsies who occupy sites in most of the major cities around the peninsula.
If you’d like the know a little about the difference between Rom and Romanian, then click on the link to a post of mine on this subject. Another older post of mine entitled Not a Good Time to be a Romanian in Italy, also looks at related issues, and may give you some ideas as to what precipitated the current crack down. Actually, this crack down is part of yet another initiative designed to clamp down on illegal immigrants within Italy.
The police have been rounding up a few of the Rom, and a few other nationalities, and checking identification documents, which many don’t have, and a few have been sent back to their countries of origin. With regard to the Rom and other troublemakers from Romania, the Italian police have been collaborating with the Romanian authorities.
One leading churchman here has come out in support of what he views as the persecution of the Rom population.
The funny thing is that the Rom problem has been in existence in Italy for many years, as anyone who has read a Lonely Planet or similar travel guide to Italy will well know. Tales of newspaper waving groups of gypsy children distracting and then robbing tourists in Italy’s main cities are legion.
The question is why now? Why didn’t someone tackle the Rom situation years ago, before letting it get out of hand, and, as a result, making the problem much more difficult to solve?
Who knows. Years of indecisive, unstable, and ineffectual governments probably have not helped much. Then, I have heard that the Rom are protected by certain specific Italian laws. I’m not sure which, but I was told this by a private investigator I know. These laws make it difficult to do much apparently, although it has to be said that gypsy populations have never been all that keen on integrating into everyday society.
Now though, they are even going to set up an official post here in Milan to deal with what is rather dramatically referred to as the ‘Rom emergency’.
To be honest, I’m not really sure the Rom problem is all that out of hand, its just that it has been around for so many years that people have finally become annoyed by it, and the absence of any attempts to reduce the problem. This, combined with a rising petty crime rate in Italy, has galvanized the authorities here into some action. The issue of petty crime was something which most of the candidates in Italy’s recent general elections focused on.
The illegal immigration problem is more recent, and, to be fair to the politicians, much more difficult to manage. I mean, just how do you monitor all of Italy’s coastline and boarders, all the time? Many of these immigrants come by small boat nowadays, and the vast majority are probably people who just wish to escape the squalor of life in their own countries. Some of these ‘boat people’ may also be criminals wanted in their own countries who come to Italy the escape the police and brutal punishment.
Others who make the risky boat trips are brought to Italy by criminal organisations and used in prostitution and drug dealing operations.
Does Italy really have a problem with crime? Well, in all honesty, not really. Compared to the US, murder rates are pretty low, and there is not the level of drink related crime which there is in the UK. However, incidents of petty crime do appear to be on the increase, and I have been a victim (lost bicycle and briefcase). Others I know have also been victims of pickpocketing and petty theft too. Indeed, I often seem to be hearing from or about someone who has lost his or her wallet/handbag.
Of course, there is the other level of crime in Italy - Italy’s world infamous, extremely well organised, profitable, and influential Mafia type groups. Although these organisations do commit crimes, and the crimes they perpetrate cause potentially greater damage to Italian society, the crimes do not, generally, affect Italians at a street level. Mafia gun battles can possibly excluded from this, but they are comparatively rare, and innocent bystanders almost never seem to be involved, if you don’t count close relations who happen to be with victims at the time of an attack.
Tackling Italy’s organised criminals is even more difficult than dealing with illegal immigration.
For Italians on the street though, petty crime levels are much more noticeable, hence the recent crack downs.
Will these initiatives make much difference? In the short term they may discourage some petty crime, in that many more police appear to be on the streets. Whereas in the long term it is doubtable whether much will change. Firstly because the roots of the problem are not being dealt with, and secondly because in Italy initiatives are always flaring up, and then fizzling away to nothing.
Maybe things will change after a year or two of Berlusconi government.
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The 442
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Hi Alex - long time no ‘e’. Couldn’t resist commenting on this.
I’m afraid you’ve sort of missed the point on the so-called “Rom emergency”. The alleged emergency, which you correctly describe as being a situation that has been around for a very long time, has come to the fore during a period when certain political groups see an opportunity to manipulate (and distract) public opinion by appealing to the fears and let’s say it (why not? Zapatero did!) xenophobia.
The problem with the Rom is that as a group they are known for living by means of petty crime, following their own traditions and not integrating with Italian society. Their children typically are not sent to school, they live in what would appear to be nomadic camps but are in reality stable communities known to, and in most cases, tolerated or even approved by city governments and law enforcement agencies.
The solution to the “problem” would be simply to apply the rule of law. You get caught picking a pocket, stealing a car, mugging a pedestrian - you get arrested. You’re a kid on the streets - you get sent to school. You don’t have a permanent address? You get one or you’re picked up for vagrancy. Simple. Works with everyone else, why not with the Rom?
But Italy is the land of double standards, where the simple solution is often the undesired one. The Rom problem is tolerated, perhaps even encouraged, because it serves a purpose. History shows us that right wing governments have often used a scapegoat group to focus the attention of the populace away from… what? Endemic corruption, conflicts of interest, and more. Create a non-emergency, then create the illusion of responding to it. It’s the old shell game, and the people fall for it every time. But it’s a very slippery slope. Pick up a person for “being Rom while driving” today, who knows who the sites will be set on tomorrow. We’ve seen where this can lead.
There is, as you say, another level of crime. Organized crime here is widespread and touches many more aspects of life than most would suspect. However, the nature of this crime is not, as you suggest, confined only to its participants - the mafia, camorra, and n’drangheta families. It touches each and every resident of this country in the most insidious ways - in particular in the fact that so many government ministers, starting with the PRIME minister, have been accused, tried and convicted of collusion with organized crime. And not only - blackmail, buying judges, flush funds, fraud, money laundering. We would all like to ignore these facts, to think that they don’t touch us, but they do - in a way that is much more serious than anything a pickpocket can do.
Romano Prodi’s government was a great disappointment, we could say - una presa in giro. But it was a two-year respite from the previous and present administration’s outright disregard of truth, transparency, and the law, and its total disdain for the people it is supposed to represent. I think that if you really reflect on this government’s past record, and the personal histories of its players, you will come to realize that the only things that will change after a year or two of Berlusconi will be their personal bank accounts.
I agree with Gege’. After the Rom, who next. The most obvious ‘next’ group are the black North Africans. And here I have a particular concern. My partner is black, from the UK, with UK/Carribean parents and a full-time job here.
But still an easy target and, as most of them seem to be selling fake goods on the street (at least, here, in Milan), they would seem to be the next ones.
This is not a good thing. Normal, but not good.
Hi Gege’
Nice to see you are still around! Now, to your comments:
“I’m afraid you’ve sort of missed the point … let’s say it (why not? Zapatero did!) xenophobia.”
I think you are right - it’s a political manoeuvre. Or rather the need was there, but the solution has been chosen for maximum publicity, minimum real effect. Yes, it does distract everyone from Italy’s real problems, but hey, what do you expect? Same old, same old politicos in power, again. Football is a great distraction too.
“The problem with the Rom …tolerated or even approved by city governments and law enforcement agencies.”
Yes, and I guess this makes them an easy target.
The solution to the “problem” …why not with the Rom?
Apply the law in Italy? First you need a legal system that is not snail slow, and then you need judges who do not swing one way or another. Oh, look - I just saw a pink elephant fly by.
“But Italy is the land of double standards, .. Pick up a person for “being Rom while driving” today, who knows who the sites will be set on tomorrow. We’ve seen where this can lead.”
I think you are partially right - only I think there is a problem, only the solution is not targeting the real causes, and this, as you say, is political. As for who gets picked on next - whoever is deemed to be the greatest threat. I’ve really no idea.
“There is, as you say, another level of crime. Organized crime here is widespread and touches many more aspects of life than most would suspect. However, the nature of this crime is not, as you suggest, confined only to its participants - the mafia, camorra, and n’drangheta families. It touches each and every resident of this country in the most insidious ways - in particular in the fact that so many government ministers, starting with the PRIME minister, have been accused, tried and convicted of collusion with organized crime. And not only - blackmail, buying judges, flush funds, fraud, money laundering. We would all like to ignore these facts, to think that they don’t touch us, but they do - in a way that is much more serious than anything a pickpocket can do.”
Yep, you are right - organised crime and corruption is the real evil, but it’s so deeply ingrained here, that you’d literally have to boot everyone out of parliament, and out of local government, and a few other places before you could even start to reduce the problem.
“Romano Prodi’s government was a great disappointment, we could say - una presa in giro. But it was a two-year respite from the previous and present administration’s outright disregard of truth, transparency, and the law, and its total disdain for the people it is supposed to represent. I think that if you really reflect on this government’s past record, and the personal histories of its players, you will come to realize that the only things that will change after a year or two of Berlusconi will be their personal bank accounts.”
Yes, Prodi’s government was useless, but, Berlusco’s is going to be potentially dangerous. And I’m sure certain people will make lots of money - not a surprise at all, that’s what most Italian politicians are in politics for - money, I mean, 60 governments since the war - is that really a sign of responsible politicians? Not in my book.
As ever, thanks for your long detailed observations, and for taking the time to write them!
All the best,
Alex
@Andy,
Black North Africans are a conceivable target, but I’d like to think that those in regular employment should be safer.
However, if the powers that be do go down this path, then there could be some nasty side effects.
Certainly, it would appear that Berlusco and friends lean towards the extreme right…
Not good.
Regards,
Alex
Alex and Andy,
We’d all like to think that those in regular employment would be safer… because it would mean they have their docs in order and permission to live and work here. But this is not the case, and everyone knows it.
The appeal to popular fear and loathing - solving all our ills by killing the scapegoat, is a tactic very dear to the far right (I have to laugh when I hear them described as ‘centro destra’).
Alex, you point out the snail-slow legal system. What do you think they have in mind when they propose making clandestinita’ a crime? What will be the effects of adding 700,000 new criminal cases to the courts’ already backlogged rosters? And then what? Does the plebis think this through? Nope. Let’s just go out and burn down a gypsy camp… ahhh that feels better!
The problem is not that my partner has full time employment or that he doesn’t have documents. The problem is that he will get angry although he is better now than he used to be. But, being ‘picked on’ by people (whoever they are) because of his colour just makes him see red and, whilst I understand it (it angers me too), if it’s the police then one has to keep one’s anger in check.
It happened in the UK too but, fortunately, we’ve had no real problem here …. as yet.
It will be fine if I’m there but when I’m not…..?
Andy,
I don’t blame your partner for getting angry. Why wouldn’t he?
In my case, I am American with Spanish roots, and my partner is Italian. Although I usually fly under the radar (I’ve been here long enough to have lost the usual “foreigner tip-off signals”) it still makes me nuts when I speak and someone detects an unidentified foreign accent. Coming from New York City, where EVERYONE has an accent of some sort, the attention given to foreign-ness here still surprises me. After 28+ years, I still am considered by people who know me well as something of an anomaly, albeit a friendly one.
The phenomenon we are witnessing now is what happens when the people, unable to understand and accept the uncontrollable factors of their lives, put into power a government that, while creating the illusion of sootheing the people’s frustrations and fears, has only its own interests in mind. The device most easily and commonly used to create the illusion is the adoption of xenophobic paranoia. Unfortunately, the people allow themselves to be manipulated in this way without asking themselves , what happens if the next target is ME?
True, Gege.
The problem is that, the general population need someone/something on whom/which to blame the ills and also some group of people to hate. This seems to generate a ‘collectiveness’ useful for politicians.
So now we have muslims and immigrants. Both are easy targets for the politicians because of people’s ignorance. And it galvanises the people, allowing them to get elected.
Maybe I’m just getting old but it does seem like we’ve been here before and it is very tedious.
We HAVE been here before.
Very scary and very sad.
The other night I had the displeasure of seeing Daniela Santanche’ interviewed on tv. That people with such blatently racist, homophobic and, yes, sexist views can go so far, in any country, is stupefying. She carried on ad nauseum and seemingly endlessly about the arrogance of gay people who seek equal marriage rights - her logic (?) being that marriage exists as a natural state in which families are formed to produce children. Period. No one bothered to challenge this demented argument with the simple question: and what do we make of heterosexual couples who marry and do NOT produce children? What do we make of heterosexual couples who marry post-menopause? Does the marriage automatically dissolve after a given non-productive period?
You’re absolutely right - people (everywhere) seem to need to have a group to hate so that they can feel better about themselves. Pathetic.
Hi Gege’,
Nice to see the discussion going on!
Now, to quote you:
“The other night I had the displeasure of seeing Daniela Santanche’ interviewed on tv. That people with such blatently racist, homophobic and, yes, sexist views can go so far, in any country, is stupefying. She carried on ad nauseum and seemingly endlessly about the arrogance of gay people who seek equal marriage rights…”
This charming woman Daniela Santanche’, was once actually the Equal Opportunities rep of Alleanza Nazionale, although Fini sacked her from this position.
Even more intruiging is that for someone so openly anti-Gay, she does seem to have a bit of a penchant for, shock horror, clothes produced by, wait for it - Gay clothes designers:
http://www.danielasantanche.com/articolo.php?id=2548
And, from a business point of view, Gay would appear to be OK:
http://www.gnomiz.com/forum2/forum192.htm
I think you know the word ‘hypocrite’.
Cheers,
Alex
Don’t know her myself, Alex, but, in my opinion, this is not unusual anywhere. Here, though, it does seem more ‘extreme’.
Hypocrites rule!
That Santanche’ was the minister of Equal Opportunity points out with what hideous cynicism this country is run.
Gay is GREAT when it comes to business - gay people represent a great big, open market that makes businesses drool with visions of all that disposable income.