Riot
Riots or unlawful assemblies occur when crowds of people have gathered and are committing
crimes or acts of
violence.
Dispersing violent crowds is usually a task for the
police, although widespread rioting may require
military support. Unstable countries typically have
paramilitary forces because rioting would be a daily occurrence without them.
Non-lethal weapons, such as water cannons,
rubber bullets, flexible baton rounds and
riot control agent, are often used to control riots.
Some repressive countries use
deadly force to stop riots, particularly if
martial law is declared or in a country at
war. This is generally permissible under the
laws of war so long as nonparticipating civilians are not intended targets.
Collateral damage is a usual result.
United Kingdom
Under UK law, a riot is defined by the 1986 Public Order Act as 12 or more persons who "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". This carries a possible fine and a sentence of up to ten years' imprisonment.
If there are fewer than twelve people present, violence may constitute the lesser offence of Violent Disorder. This is defined the same way as for a riot, but for 3 or more persons.
History
\nThe worst riots in US history with respect to lives lost took place during the Civil War when immigrant factory workers forcibly resisted the Federal Government's military draft.
See also
\n* Riot control: police, Riot control agent, paramilitary, military, \n* Riot laws: Riot Act, Black Act\n* Tools of Riot: CS gas, Plastic bullet, Rubber bullet, Molotov cocktail, \n* Types of Riot: Race riot, Police riot, Black bloc, Hooliganism, Street fighting\n* List of riots\n* Violence in sports\n* Demonstration.
