Italy approves law making it easier to arrest children as young as 14

Juvenile crime crackdown will mean children can be arrested if they are caught carrying weapons or drugs

The Italian government has approved a law that will make it easier to arrest and imprison children as young as 14 as part of its crackdown on juvenile crime after a series of high-profile cases involving teen gangs.

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, said juvenile crime is spreading like wildfire" after her cabinet approved the law, which also stipulates imprisonment of up to two years for the parents of school truants.