Tough on crime. Tough on the causes of crime.

In Italy a number of people are on trial for kidnapping one Mr Abu Omar and arranging for his transportation out of the country to an Egyptian torture camp. Some of the indicted kidnappers are being tried in absentia, having skipped the country. The Italian government has said that it will not seek their extradition; a senior official of the country sheltering these alleged criminals has said that they would in any case never be sent to face trial.