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[[File:Battle strike 1934.jpg|thumb|[[Teamsters]], armed with [[pipe (material)|pipes]], riot in a clash with [[riot police]] in the [[Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934]].]]
[[File:Battle strike 1934.jpg|thumb|[[Teamsters]], armed with [[pipe (material)|pipes]], riot in a clash with [[riot police]] in the [[Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934]].]]
[[File:Bastille 2007-05-06 anti Sarkozy 487633669 93d13b826b o.jpg|thumb|Rioters in modern times typically wear face masks, scarves, and other headgear not only to conceal their identity, but also to filter [[tear gas]]]]
[[File:Bastille 2007-05-06 anti Sarkozy 487633669 93d13b826b o.jpg|thumb|Modern rioters typically wear face masks, scarves, and other headgear to conceal their identity and filter [[tear gas]].]]


A '''riot''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|aɪ|ə|t|}}) is a form of [[civil disorder]] commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against [[authority]], [[property]] or [[people]]. They are usually a result of civil unrest. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots typically consist of disorganized groups that are frequently "chaotic and exhibit [[herd behavior]]."<ref>Braha, D (2012) ''Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction.'' PLoS ONE 7(10): e48596, [http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048596 Eprint].</ref> However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that riots are not irrational, herd-like behavior, but actually follow inverted social norms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/19/riots-psychology-crowds|title=You won't prevent future riots by disregarding the psychology of crowds|author=The Guardian|date=Aug 19, 2011}}</ref>
A '''riot''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|aɪ|ə|t|}}) is a form of [[civil disorder]] commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against [[authority]], [[property]] or [[people]]. They are usually a result of civil unrest. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots typically consist of disorganized groups that are frequently "chaotic and exhibit [[herd behavior]]."<ref>{{cite book|author=Braha, D.|year=2012|title=Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction|publisher=PLoS ONE 7(10) e48596|url=http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048596}}</ref> However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that riots are not irrational, herd-like behavior, but actually follow inverted social norms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/19/riots-psychology-crowds|title=You won't prevent future riots by disregarding the psychology of crowds|author=The Guardian|date=Aug 19, 2011}}</ref>


Riots often occur in reaction to a perceived [[grievance]] or out of [[dissent]]. Historically, riots have occurred due to poor working or [[quality of life|living conditions]], governmental [[oppression]], [[taxation]] or [[conscription]], conflicts between [[ethnic group]]s, food supply or [[religion]]s (see [[race riot]], [[sectarian violence]] and [[pogrom]]), the outcome of a music [[concert]] or [[sport]]ing event (see [[football hooliganism]]) or frustration with legal channels through which to air grievances.
Riots often occur in reaction to a perceived [[grievance]] or out of [[dissent]]. Historically, riots have occurred due to poor working or [[quality of life|living conditions]], governmental [[oppression]], [[taxation]] or [[conscription]], conflicts between [[ethnic group]]s, food supply or [[religion]]s (see [[race riot]], [[sectarian violence]] and [[pogrom]]), the outcome of a music [[concert]] or [[sport]]ing event (see [[football hooliganism]]) or frustration with legal channels through which to air grievances.


Riots typically involve "vandalism and the destruction of private and/or public property." The specific property to be targeted varies depending on the riot and the inclinations of those involved. Targets can include shops, cars, restaurants, state-owned institutions, and religious buildings.
Riots typically involve "vandalism and the destruction of private and/or public property." The specific property to be targeted varies depending on the riot and the inclinations of those involved. Targets can include shops, cars, restaurants, state-owned institutions, and religious buildings.<ref>{{cite book|author=Braha, D.|year=2012|title=Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction|publisher=PLoS ONE 7(10) e48596|url=http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048596}}</ref>


Thus, comments on the food riots of the early eighteenth century: "this resentment, when unemployment and high prices combined to make conditions unendurable, vented itself in attacks upon corn-dealers and millers, attacks which often must have degenerated into mere excuses for crime". [[Wearmouth]]{{Disambiguation needed|date=March 2013}}, in his useful chronicle of disturbance, allows himself one explanatory category: "distress". [[T. S. Ashton|Ashton]], in his study of food riots among the colliers, brings the support of the paternalist: "the turbulence of the colliers is, of course, to be accounted for by something more elementary than politics: it was the instinctive reaction of virility to hunger". The riots were "rebellions of the belly", and there is a suggestion that this is somehow a comforting explanation. The line of analysis runs: elementary — instinctive — hunger. [[C. H. Wilson (historian)|Charles Wilson]] continues the tradition: "Spasmodic rises in food prices provoked keelmen on the [[River Tyne|Tyne]] to riot in 1709, tin miners to plunder granaries at [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] in 1727". One spasm led to another: the outcome was "plunder".<ref>E.P. Thompson, 'The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century', Past and Present, no. 50 (1971), p. 77</ref>
Thus, comments on the food riots of the early eighteenth century: "this resentment, when unemployment and high prices combined to make conditions unendurable, vented itself in attacks upon corn-dealers and millers, attacks which often must have degenerated into mere excuses for crime". [[Wearmouth]]{{Disambiguation needed|date=March 2013}}, in his useful chronicle of disturbance, allows himself one explanatory category: "distress". [[T. S. Ashton|Ashton]], in his study of food riots among the colliers, brings the support of the paternalist: "the turbulence of the colliers is, of course, to be accounted for by something more elementary than politics: it was the instinctive reaction of virility to hunger". The riots were "rebellions of the belly", and there is a suggestion that this is somehow a comforting explanation. The line of analysis runs: elementary — instinctive — hunger. [[C. H. Wilson (historian)|Charles Wilson]] continues the tradition: "Spasmodic rises in food prices provoked keelmen on the [[River Tyne|Tyne]] to riot in 1709, tin miners to plunder granaries at [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] in 1727". One spasm led to another: the outcome was "plunder".<ref>E.P. Thompson, 'The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century', Past and Present, no. 50 (1971), p. 77</ref>

Revision as of 17:10, 22 May 2014

This article is about a type of event. For other meanings of riot, see Riot (disambiguation).
Teamsters, armed with pipes, riot in a clash with riot police in the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934.
Modern rioters typically wear face masks, scarves, and other headgear to conceal their identity and filter tear gas.

A riot (/ˈraɪət/) is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property or people. They are usually a result of civil unrest. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots typically consist of disorganized groups that are frequently "chaotic and exhibit herd behavior."[1] However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that riots are not irrational, herd-like behavior, but actually follow inverted social norms.[2]

Riots often occur in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. Historically, riots have occurred due to poor working or living conditions, governmental oppression, taxation or conscription, conflicts between ethnic groups, food supply or religions (see race riot, sectarian violence and pogrom), the outcome of a music concert or sporting event (see football hooliganism) or frustration with legal channels through which to air grievances.

Riots typically involve "vandalism and the destruction of private and/or public property." The specific property to be targeted varies depending on the riot and the inclinations of those involved. Targets can include shops, cars, restaurants, state-owned institutions, and religious buildings.[3]

Thus, comments on the food riots of the early eighteenth century: "this resentment, when unemployment and high prices combined to make conditions unendurable, vented itself in attacks upon corn-dealers and millers, attacks which often must have degenerated into mere excuses for crime". Wearmouth[disambiguation needed], in his useful chronicle of disturbance, allows himself one explanatory category: "distress". Ashton, in his study of food riots among the colliers, brings the support of the paternalist: "the turbulence of the colliers is, of course, to be accounted for by something more elementary than politics: it was the instinctive reaction of virility to hunger". The riots were "rebellions of the belly", and there is a suggestion that this is somehow a comforting explanation. The line of analysis runs: elementary — instinctive — hunger. Charles Wilson continues the tradition: "Spasmodic rises in food prices provoked keelmen on the Tyne to riot in 1709, tin miners to plunder granaries at Falmouth in 1727". One spasm led to another: the outcome was "plunder".[4]

Some rioters have become quite sophisticated at understanding and withstanding the tactics used by police in such situations. Manuals for successful rioting are available on the internet [citation needed]. These manuals also encourage rioters to get the press involved, as there is more safety with the cameras rolling. There is also more attention. Citizens with video cameras may also have an effect on both rioters and police.

"Dealing" with riots is an often difficult task for police departments. The police force may use tear gas or CS gas to attack rioters. In some countries riot police have moved to using less-than-lethal methods to control riots, such as shotguns that fire flexible baton rounds to injure or otherwise incapacitate rioters for easy arrest.

Types

New York police violently attacking unemployed workers in Tompkins Square Park, 1874

A police riot is a term for the disproportionate and unlawful use of force by a group of police against a group of civilians, commonly where police attack a group of peaceful civilians and/or provoke previously peaceful civilians into violence.

A prison riot is a type of large scale, temporary act of concerted defiance or disorder by a group of prisoners against the prison administrators, prison officers, or other groups of prisoners, often to express a grievance, in an attempt to force change or an attempt to escape the prison.

In a race riot, race or ethnicity is the key factor. The term had entered the English language in the United States by the 1890s. Early use of the term in the United States referred to race riots which were often a mob action by members of a majority racial group against people of other perceived races.

In a religious riot, the key factor is religion.[5] The rioting mob targets people and properties of a specific religion, or those believed to belong to that religion.

Student riots are riots precipitated by students, often in higher education, such as a college/university. Student riots in the US and Western Europe in the 1960s and the 1970s were often political in nature, although student riots can occur as a result of peaceful demonstration oppressed by the authorities and after sporting events. Students may constitute an active political force in a given country, and student riots may occur in the context of wider political or social grievances.

Urban riots are riots in the context of urban decay, provoked by conditions such as discrimination, poverty, high unemployment, poor schools, poor healthcare, housing inadequacy and police brutality and bias. Urban riots are closely associated with race riots and police riots.

Sports riots can be sparked by the losing or winning of a specific team, such as the Nika riots. Fans of the two teams may also fight. Five main reasons for sports riots are teams contending for a championship, a long series of matches, a gathering place for many fans, the presence of young men, and scores that are close. Sports are the most common cause of riots in the United States, accompanying more than half of all championship games or series; almost all occur in the winning team's city.[6]

Food and bread riots are caused by harvest failures, incompetent food storage, hoarding, poisoning of food, or attacks by pests like locusts. When the public becomes too desperate in such conditions, they attack shops, farms, homes, or government buildings to obtain bread or other staple foods like grain or salt, as in the 1977 Egyptian Bread Riots.

Effects

St. Augustine's Church on fire. Anti-Irish Nativist riots in Philadelphia in 1844

The effects of riots in terms of economic and political consequences are as complex as the socioeconomic origins of such events. Widespread property destruction and harm to individuals are often immediately measurable effects. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, 2,383 people were injured, 8,000 were arrested, 51 were killed and over 700 businesses burned. Property damage was estimated at over $1 billion. Of the 51 killed,[7] at least ten of them were shot by police or National Guard forces.

Similarly, the 2005 civil unrest in France lasted over three weeks and spread to nearly 300 towns. By the end of the incident, over 10,000 vehicles were destroyed and over 300 buildings burned.[8] Over 2,800 suspected rioters were arrested and 126 police and firefighters were injured.[9] Damages were estimated at being well over €200 Million.

Many governments and political systems have fallen after riots, including:

Control and police response

Main article: Riot control
Law enforcement teams wear body armor and shields, and may use tear gas

Riots are typically dealt with by the police (riot control), although methods differ from country to country. Tactics and weapons used can include attack dogs, water cannons, plastic bullets, rubber bullets, pepper spray, flexible baton rounds, and snatch squads. Many police forces, such as the London Metropolitan Police Service, have dedicated divisions to deal with public order situations (see Territorial Support Group, Special Patrol Group, Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, Mobiele Eenheid, Arrest Units).

The policing of riots has been marred by incidents in which police have been accused of instigating or provoking rioting or crowd violence (see Police riot); also, while the weapons described above are officially designated as non-lethal, a number of people have died or been injured as a result of their use. For example, seventeen deaths were caused by rubber bullets in Northern Ireland over the thirty five years between 1970 and 2005.[10]

Risk of arrest

A high risk of being arrested is even more effective against rioting than severe punishments.[11][dubious – discuss] As more and more people join the riot, the risk of being arrested goes down, which persuades still more people to join. This leads to a vicious circle, which is typically ended only by sufficient police or military presence to bring up the risk of being arrested.[11]

National laws

India

In India, rioting is an offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

United Kingdom

England and Wales
The Brixton race riot in London, 1981

Riot is a statutory offence in England and Wales. It is created by section 1(1) of the Public Order Act 1986. Sections 1(1) to (5) of that Act read:

(1) Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.
(2) It is immaterial whether or not the 12 or more use or threaten unlawful violence simultaneously.
(3) The common purpose may be inferred from conduct.
(4) No person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.
(5) Riot may be committed in private as well as in public places.

A single person can be liable for an offence of riot when they use violence, provided that it is shown there were at least twelve present using or threatening unlawful violence.

"Violence"

This word is defined by section 8. The violence can be against the person or against property.

Mens rea

The mens rea is defined by section 6(1).

Restriction on institution of proceedings

See section 7(1)

Indictment

See R v Tyler and others, 96 Cr App R 332, [1993] Crim LR 60, CA.

Mode of trial and sentence

Riot is an indictable-only offence. A person convicted of riot is liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding ten years, or to a fine, or to both.[12]

See the following cases:

  • R v Luttman [1973] Crim LR 127, CA
  • R v Pilgrim, 5 Cr App R (S) 140, CA
  • R v Keys, 84 Cr App R 204, 8 Cr App R (S) 444, [1987] Crim LR 207, CA
  • R v Cooke, 9 Cr App R (S) 116, CA

Association football matches

In the case of riot connected to football hooliganism, the offender may be banned from football grounds for a set or indeterminate period of time and may be required to surrender their passport to the police for a period of time in the event of a club or international match, or international tournament, connected with the offence. This prevents travelling to the match or tournament in question. (The measures were brought in by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 after rioting of England fans at Euro 2000.[13])

Compensation for riot damage

See the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 and section 235 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995..

Construction of "riot" and cognate expressions in other instruments

Section 10 of the Public Order Act 1986 now provides:

(1) In the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 . . . (compensation for riot damage) "riotous" and "riotously" shall be construed in accordance with section 1 above.
(2) In Schedule 1 to the Marine Insurance Act 1906 (form and rules for the construction of certain insurance policies) "rioters" in rule 8 and "riot" in rule 10 shall, in the application of the rules to any policy taking effect on or after the coming into force of this section, be construed in accordance with section 1 above unless a different intention appears.
(3) "Riot" and cognate expressions in any enactment in force before the coming into force of this section (other than the enactments mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) above) shall be construed in accordance with section 1 above if they would have been construed in accordance with the common law offence of riot apart from this Part.
(4) Subject to subsections (1) to (3) above and unless a different intention appears, nothing in this Part affects the meaning of "riot" or any cognate expression in any enactment in force, or other instrument taking effect, before the coming into force of this section.[14]

As to this provision, see pages 84 and 85 of the Law Commission's report.[15]

Common law offence

The common law offence of riot was abolished[16] for England and Wales[17] on 1 April 1987.[18]

History

In the past, the Riot Act had to be read by an official - with the wording exactly correct - before violent policing action could take place. If the group did not disperse after the Act was read, lethal force could legally be used against the crowd. See also the Black Act.

Section 515 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 formerly made provision for compensation for riot damage.

Northern Ireland

Riot is a serious offence for the purposes of Chapter 3 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.[19]

See paragraph 13 of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.

Scotland

There is an offence under the law of Scotland which is known both as "mobbing" and "mobbing and rioting".

United States of America

See also: Civil Rights Act of 1968

Under United States federal law, a riot is defined as:

A public disturbance involving (1) an act or acts of violence by one or more persons part of an assemblage of three or more persons, which act or acts shall constitute a clear and present danger of, or shall result in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of any other individual or (2) a threat or threats of the commission of an act or acts of violence by one or more persons part of an assemblage of three or more persons having, individually or collectively, the ability of immediate execution of such threat or threats, where the performance of the threatened act or acts of violence would constitute a clear and present danger of, or would result in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of any other individual.18 U.S.C. § 2102.

As every state in the United States has its own laws (subject to the Supremacy Clause), each has its own definition of a riot. In the U.S. state of New York, the term riot is not defined explicitly, but under § 240.08 of the N.Y. Penal Law due to the fact there was much fighting in the streets, "A person is guilty of inciting to riot when one urges ten or more persons to engage in tumultuous and violent conduct of a kind likely to create public alarm."

See also

References

  1. ^ Braha, D. (2012). Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction. PLoS ONE 7(10) e48596.
  2. ^ The Guardian (Aug 19, 2011). "You won't prevent future riots by disregarding the psychology of crowds".
  3. ^ Braha, D. (2012). Global Civil Unrest: Contagion, Self-Organization, and Prediction. PLoS ONE 7(10) e48596.
  4. ^ E.P. Thompson, 'The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century', Past and Present, no. 50 (1971), p. 77
  5. ^ "Thrown pig leads to religious riots in India". CNN. July 3, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  6. ^ Ballard, Steve (2011-12-26). "The Kiss". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  7. ^ Jim Crogan (Apr 24, 2002). "The L.A. 53". LA Weekly.
  8. ^ Česky. "Émeutes de 2005 dans les banlieues françaises - Wikipédia" (in Template:Fr icon). Fr.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2013-04-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  9. ^ Česky. "2005 civil unrest in France - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  10. ^ Williams, Anthony G. "Less-lethal ammunition". http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/baton.htm. "an amended version of an article which first appeared in Jane's Police Products Review, October/November 2007, and includes information from British 37mm Baton Rounds, which appeared in Small Arms Review in August 2008"
  11. ^ a b How Riots Start, and How They Can Be Stopped: Edward Glaeser, Edward Glaeser, Bloomberg.com, Aug 12, 2011
  12. ^ The Public Order Act 1986, section 1(6)
  13. ^ "Explanatory Notes to the Football (Disorder) Act 2000". Legislation.gov.uk. 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  14. ^ Digitized copy
  15. ^ The Law Commission. Criminal Law: Offences relating to Public Order (Law Com 123). HMSO. 1983.
  16. ^ The Public Order Act 1986, section 9(1)
  17. ^ The Public Order Act 1986, section 42
  18. ^ The Public Order Act 1986 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1987, article 2 and Schedule (1987/198 (C. 4))
  19. ^ The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, article 12(2) and Schedule 1, paragraph 4.
  • Blackstones Police Manual Volume 4 General police duties, Fraser Simpson (2006). pp. 245. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-928522-5

Further reading

External links

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