A new policy in Italy has restricted prosecutors from disclosing the nationality of criminal suspects in official statements unless there is a specific and justified public-interest reason, triggering a wider debate over transparency, crime reporting and migration.
The controversy emerged on 11 July 2026, when it became public that the Prosecutor General’s Office in Perugia had introduced guidelines instructing prosecutors within its judicial district not to mention suspects’ nationality in press releases unless strictly necessary.
The measure is not a nationwide rule and does not prevent journalists from independently reporting a suspect’s nationality. It applies only to prosecutors in the Perugia judicial district, but it has quickly become a national political issue because other judicial districts could eventually adopt similar communication guidelines, potentially reshaping how crime-related information is presented across Italy.
The debate is also taking place against the backdrop of crime statistics showing that foreign nationals are significantly over-represented among suspects and convicted prisoners compared with their share of the Italian population, making the role of nationality in crime reporting one of the country’s most contested political issues.
Foreign nationals represent around 9 per cent of Italy’s resident population, but they account for a significantly higher share of people reported to judicial authorities. According to figures based on Interior Ministry data, foreign citizens represented around 34.7 per cent of individuals reported or investigated for crimes in 2024 (last data available).
The gap is particularly visible in some categories of street crime. Foreign nationals account for a large proportion of people reported for offences such as pickpocketing, street robbery and theft, according to police statistics cited in Italy’s migration and security debate.
Prison figures show a similar pattern of over-representation. According to Italy’s Ministry of Justice, foreign citizens accounted for around 31.6 per cent of inmates in Italian prisons in 2025 — approximately 19,800 prisoners out of a total prison population of about 62,700 — despite representing roughly one tenth of the resident population.
Among foreign nationals involved in Italy’s criminal justice system, some nationalities are more represented than others. Ministry of Justice figures show that the largest foreign groups among inmates include citizens from Morocco, Romania, Albania, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria and Gambia.
The Perugia guidelines aim to prevent the association of specific nationalities or migrant groups with criminal behaviour by limiting the routine disclosure of suspects’ nationality. Supporters argue that the measure reduces the risk of discrimination and collective blame, especially before a conviction has been reached.
Critics on the centre-Right, however, argue that nationality can sometimes be relevant information when discussing security trends. They claim that limiting official communication risks reducing transparency on issues that concern citizens.
The League’s regional secretary in Umbria, Riccardo Augusto Marchetti, announced plans to question Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, arguing that the public should have access to information on criminal cases of potential social relevance.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time. On 8 July 2026, just three days before the Perugia guidelines became public, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party presented a proposal aimed at accelerating the deportation of non-EU nationals convicted of serious crimes. Migration control, deportations and security remain central themes of the government’s agenda.
Although the Perugia decision is limited to one judicial district, it could influence the wider national debate. Other prosecutors’ offices may consider adopting similar guidelines, while lawmakers could push for national standards on judicial communication.
