History of Riot in Timeline

A riot is a form of civil disorder involving a violent public disturbance by a group. This violence is typically directed at authority figures, property, or other individuals. Riots often represent a collective outburst against perceived grievances or injustices, resulting in property damage, injuries, and social disruption.

1948: Statute Law Revision Act 1948

In 1948, Section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948 repealed laws related to riots.

1962: Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

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

1967: Criminal Law Act 1967

In 1967, section 10(2) of, and Part I of Schedule 3 to, the Criminal Law Act 1967 repealed the whole chapter of laws related to riots, so far as unrepealed.

1970: Deaths Caused by Rubber Bullets in Northern Ireland

Starting in 1970, seventeen deaths were caused by rubber bullets in Northern Ireland over the thirty five years between 1970 and 2005.

1977: Egyptian Bread Riots

In 1977, the Egyptian Bread Riots involved hundreds of thousands of people rioting after food subsidies were stopped and prices rose, leading to widespread unrest.

July 1981: Disorder in Dundee and Edinburgh

In July 1981, both Dundee and Edinburgh saw significant disorder as part of the events of that July, while in 1994 and in 2013, two years after the English riots of August 2011, Edinburgh saw rioting, albeit localised to one specific area and not part of any bigger 'riot wave'.

1983: Statute Law Revision Act 1983

In 1983, the statute 2 Hen. 5. Stat. 1, of which this chapter was part, was repealed for the Republic of Ireland by section 1 of, and Part 2 of the Schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1983.

1986: Public Order Act 1986

In 1986, Riot is created as a statutory offence in England and Wales by section 1(1) of the Public Order Act 1986.

April 1987: Abolishment of Common Law Offence of Riot

The common law offence of riot was abolished for England and Wales on April 1, 1987.

1988: Israeli Army Rules of Engagement for Plastic Bullets

In 1988, the Israeli army issued rules of engagement for the use of plastic bullets which defined a "violent riot" as a disturbance with the participation of three or more persons, including stone throwing, erection of a barrier or barricade, burning a tire.

1992: Los Angeles Riots

During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, there were 2,383 injuries, over 12,000 arrests, 63 deaths, and over 700 businesses burned, resulting in over $1 billion in property damage. Police and National Guard forces shot at least ten of those killed.

1994: Edinburgh Rioting

In 1994, Edinburgh saw rioting, albeit localised to one specific area and not part of any bigger 'riot wave', similar events happened in July 1981 and in 2013, two years after the English riots of August 2011.

1995: Merchant Shipping Act 1995

The Riot (Damages) Act 1886 and section 235 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 relate to riots.

2000: Football (Disorder) Act 2000

In 2000, the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 was introduced after rioting of England fans at Euro 2000, allowing offenders to be banned from football grounds and required to surrender their passports.

2005: Civil unrest in France

In 2005, civil unrest in France lasted over three weeks and spread to nearly 300 towns, resulting in over 10,000 vehicles destroyed, over 300 buildings burned, over 2,800 suspected rioters arrested, 126 police and firefighters injured, and estimated damages over €200 Million.

2005: Deaths Caused by Rubber Bullets in Northern Ireland

Seventeen deaths were caused by rubber bullets in Northern Ireland over the thirty five years between 1970 and 2005.

2008: Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

In 2008, riot is a serious offence for the purposes of Chapter 3 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

August 2011: English Riots of August 2011

Events in 1981 were very similar to those in England, although sources are severely limited. Both Niddrie and Craigmillar saw riots in the 1980s.

2013: Edinburgh Rioting

In 2013, two years after the English riots of August 2011, Edinburgh saw rioting, albeit localised to one specific area and not part of any bigger 'riot wave', similar events happened in July 1981 and in 1994.