Night time vandalism at some of Rome's most popular tourist spots has prompted the city authorities to order the installation of 20 new, infrared closed-circuit television cameras. They are to be placed at the places most at risk throughout the city; the Pincio overlooking Piazza del Popolo, the gardens on the Janiculum hill, Piazza Colonna and Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere. The move follows the discovery that a Fiat 500 car had been dumped over night into a fountain on the Pincio.

The new cameras, which rotate, will relay detailed images to the central surveillance office of the city council at the Campidoglio.

The installation of the new system will cost 1,5 million and should be completed by the spring on 2005.