Difference between revisions of "Security issue: Destruction by riots"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  +
Riots are physical expressions of discontent by large unorganised groups of people, expressed in vandalism, assault and/or pillaging. Although the riot may be unorganised, the reason for these people being there may well be. Examples of an organised event turning to an unorganised riot are the [[Wikipedia:2011 England riots|2011 events in Tottenham, London]][http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riots-peaceful-protest]
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[[Image:Carpetright store after Tottenham riots.jpg|tumb|right|300px|Firefighters douse a shop and flats destroyed by arson during the initial rioting in 2011 in Tottenham, London]]
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=== Organised protests ==
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=== Events ===
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=== Social unrest ===
 
* alcohol related
 
* alcohol related
 
* sports related
 
* sports related

Revision as of 15:34, 2 April 2013

Destruction by riots is the act of vandalism of property by organised groups for a shared rational or rationalised reason.

Description

Riots are physical expressions of discontent by large unorganised groups of people, expressed in vandalism, assault and/or pillaging. Although the riot may be unorganised, the reason for these people being there may well be. Examples of an organised event turning to an unorganised riot are the 2011 events in Tottenham, London[1]

Firefighters douse a shop and flats destroyed by arson during the initial rioting in 2011 in Tottenham, London

= Organised protests

Events

Social unrest

  • alcohol related
  • sports related
  • social circumstance related

Contributing circumstances

  • Alcohol
  • Excitement
  • Previous acts of riot/Tradition of riots (f.e. annual)
  • Competitive atmosphere
  • Provocation
  • Bad socio-economic circumstances (poverty, inequality of income, high unemployment, poor schools, poor healthcare, housing inadequacy, etc.) and lack of economic opportunity
  • Youth (?)
  • Racism/Ethnic/religious causes
  • Lack of community, ownership or connection/identity with the area

Impacts

Social impact

  • Loss of perceived security
  • Increase of likelihood of re-emerging
  • Social effects

Economic impact

Riots lead to considerable costs in both a direct (primary) and a indirect (secondary) way[1]. Direct costs of destruction by riots come in the form of:

  • Preventive costs in anticipation of riots (e.g. security measures, insurance);
  • Material and immaterial costs as a consequence of rioting (e.g. physical damage, repairs, medical costs, mental harm)[2]; and
  • Responsive costs to riots (e.g. the costs of detection and prevention, prosecution, support trial, etc.).

In addition, the secondary economic impact of crime has to be considered:

  • Riots make investors nervous: "Although the Thai stock market has recovered strongly this year, investors saw a 10% drop while the rioting was going on (in 2010)[3]. "Moreover, while Thailand no doubt benefited from its reputation as a peaceful and relatively orderly country, countries with chronic troubles risk getting labelled as "basket cases" and virtually eliminated from serious consideration as investment destinations"[4].
  • Rioting also has a distinct impact on tourism. "China reported that disturbances in Xinjiang in 2009 led almost 85,000 travellers to cancel trips to the area, while Thailand has seen a big drop in tourism since its political troubles turned violent"[5] in the spring of 2010.

Mobility impact

Safety impact

  • Bodily harm
  • Physical damage

Measures

  • Ensure compatibility and balance of land use and activities
  • Ensure controllability of alcohol distribution
  • Provide alternative entertainment
  • Limit possibilities for gathering of crowds (parking capacity?)
  • Provide opportunities for regulation of traffic flow (flexible measure)
  • Provide transportation facilities to and from the event
  • Consider levels of permeability if it would facilitate natural crowd dispersion
  • Establish a clear and controllable perimeter for the gathering
  • Include highly visual clues to strict law enforcement [6]

[7] [8] [9] [10]

Footnotes and references

  1. Primary economic impact (or direct effects) are generally defined as the initial, immediate economic output generated by a specific cause (in this case a criminal offence). Secondary economic impact (or indirect effects) are generated each time a subsequent transaction is made, for example, the impact of crime on the real estate value in the neighbourhood.
  2. For example: In 2005 the civil unrest in France lasted for over three weeks and spread to nearly 300 towns. By the end of the incident, over 10,000 vehicles were destroyed, over 300 buildings burned, 126 police and fire-fighters were injured, and damages were estimated at being well over €200 Million (Source: Wikipedia)
  3. Investopedia, http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1210/how-riots-influence-an-economy.aspx#axzz2Dd7xpsbL
  4. Ibid
  5. http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1210/how-riots-influence-an-economy.aspx#axzz2Dd7xpsbL
  6. Student Party Riots Guide No.39 (2006) by Tamara D. Madensen & John E. Eck
  7. Report of the Proceedings prepared by the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Centre for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention with funding from The Network: Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues
  8. Doc. 11685 8 July 2008 Riots in European cities: lessons and Council of Europe response Report Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee Rapporteur: Mr Roland BLUM, France, Group of the European People’s Party
  9. [Policing and Social Disadvantage: Learning from the Riots in Macquarie Fields and Redfern, Don Weatherburn]
  10. [Tottenham riots: a peaceful protest, then suddenly all hell broke loose (Guardian)]