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.) and lack of economic opportunity
  • Youth (?)
  • Racism/Ethnic/religious causes
  • Lack of community, ownership or connection/identity with the area

Impacts

  • Bodily harm
  • Physical damage, Financial loss
  • 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); and
  • Responsive costs to riots (e.g. the costs of detection and prevention, persecution, support trial, etc.).
"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"[2]. "Over 2,800 suspected rioters were arrested and 126 police and fire-fighters were injured and damages were estimated at being well over €200 Million"[3]. "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"[4]."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"[5]."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"[6].The Metropolitan police deployed 16,000 officers throughout London.

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)[7]. "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"[8].
  • 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"[9] in the spring of 2010.

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 [10]

[11] [12] [13] [14]

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. Wikipedia, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89meutes_de_2005_dans_les_banlieues_fran%C3%A7aises#D.C3.A9but_des_.C3.A9meutes
  3. Ibid
  4. Retaileconomic, http://www.retaileconomics.co.uk/london-riots-cost-retail-300-million-in-lost-sales/
  5. Ibid.
  6. Ibid.
  7. Investopedia, http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1210/how-riots-influence-an-economy.aspx#axzz2Dd7xpsbL
  8. Ibid
  9. http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1210/how-riots-influence-an-economy.aspx#axzz2Dd7xpsbL
  10. Student Party Riots Guide No.39 (2006) by Tamara D. Madensen & John E. Eck
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. [Policing and Social Disadvantage: Learning from the Riots in Macquarie Fields and Redfern, Don Weatherburn]
  14. [Tottenham riots: a peaceful protest, then suddenly all hell broke loose (Guardian)]

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