Italy opens first detention centre for migrants from 'safe' countries

The centre will house people who can't claim refugee status as they've arrived from countries not considered to be dangerous.

Transcript

00:00 Italy has set up its first centre for asylum seekers deemed to have come from so-called

00:05 safe countries. The Italian government hopes the facility in the Sicilian port of Pesaro

00:12 will accelerate the process of asylum claims. It will house people who can't claim refugee

00:17 status as they have arrived from countries not considered to be dangerous.

00:23 It comes as Italy struggles to cope with severe overcrowding at its migrant centre on Lampedusa

00:29 Island. Authorities have begun moving some to other locations after a recent surge in

00:35 arrivals. The extent of the problem was highlighted earlier this month when some migrants broke

00:41 out of the centre because of a lack of space and essential provisions. In an effort to

00:46 reduce numbers arriving, Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney's cabinet is implementing measures

00:51 against young adults posing as unaccompanied minors in order to claim state protection.

00:56 (crowd chattering)