The territory of criminal organisations - The criminal occupation of areas has not yet been studied by those responsible for urban planning and development. However, this is not just a question of an ethical and political challenge, criminal power and its territorial rationale pose theoretical problems and an interpretative question. If we consider forms of mafia control, the opposing positions of state and civil society seem sterile and the presumption that the latter should be called upon make up for the failings of the former appears especially excessive. Criminal presence can be interpreted as one of the forms of ‘rulelessness’, regulatory redundancy, which regards institutions and society. Therefore, the entire experience of local policies centred on enhancing the value of social capital is called into question. On the one hand it becomes possible to discuss the ‘dark side’ of social capital and on the other a return to legality and regulation (including urban planning regulation) appears necessary. However, an examination of the policies and urban planning policies in particular, indicates that it is far from obvious to expect that respect for rules and good citizenship practices go hand in hand.