The murder of a fifteen-year-old boy last night in the heart of Naples has profoundly shocked the city and its institutions. At the conclusion of the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Safety, which met today at the Prefecture, the Prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, firmly expressed the need for joint action to address the problem of youth violence.
“This murder deeply affects the city. There are no more words to describe such a tragedy, and this challenges us all”, declared the prefect. “We are concerned, but at the same time determined to address these issues with great responsibility.” Di Bari stressed that the response will be twofold: on the one hand, the police will intensify prevention activities with extraordinary services and territorial control operations; on the other, the judiciary will give a decisive and concrete response. “But it's not enough”, continued the prefect. “We need an appeal to the entire city. The age group of young people involved in episodes of violence continues to decrease, and this is an alarming signal that concerns us all.”
The discussion in Prefecture highlighted a strong institutional cohesion: “Today everyone agreed on the need for a social response. And this response already exists: the community is acting, especially in the field of school dropouts, which is decreasing. Gun control is also effective, and the data shows us a decrease in illegal possession. However, homicides remain stable compared to last year, and this pushes us to do more”.
The prefect also praised the measures adopted by the Municipality of Naples in terms of security, such as the implementation of the video surveillance system. “We have about a thousand active cameras and another 350 surveillance systems on the way, thanks to a 3 million euro funding provided by the Ministry of the Interior. The security apparatus is working, but we must ask ourselves why all this is still insufficient”, observed from Bari.
The prefect's conclusion was a strong appeal for collective responsibility: “Each of us must do our utmost. I am confident that the city will respond to this appeal. We must reclaim educational tools to convey to young people the sense of fundamental values. If a fifteen-year-old is killed today, it means that the value of life is almost annihilated. It is our duty to fight this drift and reestablish the importance of life and respect. This is the commitment we have made.”
A tragedy that shocks the community, we hope that the actions taken can really make a difference.