Security issue: Destruction by riots

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Security issue: Destruction by riots

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

Description

  • alcohol related
  • sports related
  • social circumstance related

Attributing 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.)
  • Youth (?)
  • Ethnic/religious causes

Impacts

  • Bodily harm
  • Physical damage, Financial loss
  • Loss of perceived security
  • Increase of likelihood of re-emerging
  • Social effects

Economic impacts

The effects of riots in terms of economic consequences are complex. They are incurred in anticipation of riots (e.g., security measures, insurance costs), as a consequence of riots (e.g., destruction of property and harm to individuals), and as a response to riots (e.g. police, prosecution, court proceedings, sanctions, etc.). These costs are referred to as the economic effects of crime.

Widespread property destruction and harm to individuals are often immediately measurable effects (the primary economic effects). "During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, 2,383 people were injured, 8,000 were arrested, 51 were killed and over 700 businesses burned"[1]. Property damage was estimated at over $ 1 billion. Of the 51 killed[2], at least ten of them were shot by police or National Guard forces[3]. "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.[4]. "Over 2,800 suspected rioters were arrested and 126 police and firefighters were injured.[5] Damages were estimated at being well over €200 Million"[5].

"The riots that erupted throughout London and other parts of the UK are estimated to have cost up to £300 million in damage and lost revenue in the retail sector"[6]."A report from the Local Data Company (LDC) revealed that 48,404 shops, pubs and restaurants were affected by the riots. The report found that 28 town centres were affected, not to mention standalone supermarkets and retail parks"[7]."Research from the British Retail Consortium found that among the 16 major firms that account for a quarter of UK retail sales, 899 outlets were attacked during the UK riots, affecting more than 11,000 workers and resulting in over 7,500 lost trading hours"[8].The Metropolitan police deployed 16,000 officers throughout London.

In addition, the secondary economic impact of criminal offences has to be considered. Riots not only leads to financial or physical damage and prevention costs, but also indirectly influences the local/regional and national economy of a country/region. According to Detotto and Otranto [4],“crime acts like a tax on the entire economy: it discourages domestic and foreign direct investments[5]. On a more local and regional level, economists define the following types of secondary impact:

  • business impact (crime reduces competitiveness of companies and investments)
  • impact on property value
  • tourism impact
  • impact on quality of life/social capital

Measures

  • Ensure controlability 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
  • Establish a clear and controllable perimeter for the gathering
  • Include highly visual clues to strict law enforcement [9]

[10] [11] [12] [13]

Footnotes and references

  1. ↑ Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Wikipedia, http://www.laweekly.com/2002-05-02/news/the-l-a-53/
  3. ↑ Ibid.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89meutes_de_2005_dans_les_banlieues_fran%C3%A7aises#D.C3.A9but_des_.C3.A9meutes
  5. ↑ Ibid
  6. ↑ Retaileconomic, http://www.retaileconomics.co.uk/london-riots-cost-retail-300-million-in-lost-sales/
  7. ↑ Ibid.
  8. ↑ Ibid.
  9. ↑ Student Party Riots Guide No.39 (2006) by Tamara D. Madensen & John E. Eck
  10. ↑ Report of the Proceedings prepared by the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention with funding from The Network: Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ [Policing and Social Disadvantage: Learning from the Riots in Macquarie Fields and Redfern, Don Weatherburn]
  13. ↑ [Tottenham riots: a peaceful protest, then suddenly all hell broke loose (Guardian)]

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