Italy’s Gypsy communities are living in fear of attacks on their homes by Mafia-backed mobs and possible deportation under tough anti-immigration legislation tabled by the new centre-right government.

Slideshow: A community living in fear

The Roma community is blaming right-wing nationalists and the media for whipping up a xenophobic frenzy over security and immigration during April’s elections

Presenting a package of security policies last week in Naples, Silvio Berlusconi, elected prime minister for a third time last month, said the state had a duty to “uphold the right of citizens not to be afraid”.