Vatican City: crime capital of Europe?

From the BBC:

The world's smallest country - the Vatican - has one of the highest crime rates in the world, a report said.

The report, for the year 2002, was presented to the pontifical court by the state's Chief Prosecutor, Nicola Picardi.

Mr Picardi said that criminal offences per capita were more than 20 times higher than in neighbouring Italy.

St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican museums provide a kind of earthly paradise for pickpockets, the report said.

Other crimes included embezzlement, fraud and insulting the police and civil servants.

Yes, saying rude things to policemen and bureaucrats can get you in serious trouble in Italy (and the Vatican). The overall stats are a little skewed, given that the population of the Vatican is only 500 or so. Still, watch your pockets when you are walking around St. Peter's.

Posted by David on January 8, 2003 10:27 PM