Nick Starling on the Riots

Information to Businesses Affected by Rioting

ABI Guidance on Legal Position of Riot Compensation

The Riots and Insurance

During the recent unfortunate incidents in major cities around the UK many homes and businesses have been devastated by fire, theft or general malicious damage.  If you have concerns that your property or business may be at risk over the coming days the following advice should help you minimise the risk of damage from riots or subsequent looting:

• The safety of your employees and customers must be your priority. Make sure that you have suitable emergency plans and that these cover periods when riots and civil disorder are possible so that you can avoid such persons being on the premises or travelling to or from them during periods of danger. Have a robust emergency contact procedure including home and mobile phone numbers for staff. Make sure that you have this information available at all times – it is no good just keeping it at the premises! Keep this information secure and remember your Data Protection obligations.

• Remember to brief your staff - aim to minimise opportunities for confrontation by discouraging doorstep cigarette breaks, avoid lunching out and instruct them to walk away from provocation. 
• Keep up to date with developments. Liaison with your local police authority to gather the most up to date intelligence.

• You should carry out an audit of your security to ensure that premises are adequately protected.  Particular attention should be paid to the ground floor and basement level, but not forgetting windows, emergency escape doors and roof-lights accessible from external fire escape staircases, scaffolding and roofs of adjoining buildings.

• Remove valuable items from inside shop-front displays or which are close to ground floor windows. Put small high value items in your safe, if you have one. Consider what larger items may be safely removed during periods of unrest.

• If you do decide to temporarily close for business, try to give affected employees as much notice as possible so that they do not make unnecessary journeys putting themselves at risk. If you are sending staff home during a period of disorder, discuss with them what arrangements can be made to try to get them home safely.

• A lot of damage has been done by arson, to help prevent this you should make sure that all exteriors of buildings are cleared of combustibles and waste materials to which the public may have access.
• Review your contingency plan so that you are prepared in the event of building damage, and for emergency repairs, boarding-up, cleaning-up operations, etc.

• Make sure that you have two up-to-date copies of your computer data stored securely away from the premises.

• Be particularly aware of any unusual or suspicious activity and ensure you maintain tight control over any entrances or exits to your property. 

• Avoid leaving combustible or flammable items outside your premises.

If you are unlucky enough to have been affected by these events please also make note of the following advice

Report any damage to the police at once as there is a 14 day limit for notification under the Riot Act 1886, obtain a crime reference number and inform them that you intend to make a claim against them for the cost of any loss or damage under the Act.

The Act places a responsibility on the Police Authority for any damage caused by riot. The Act defines Riot as “when 12 or more people have gathered to use or threaten violence for a common purpose”. It may be that police authorities will not accept that the damage you report is as a result of “riot”, however, it is important you make the intention to claim under this Act clear at the time you notify the police of any damage, from thereon we will take on any recovery action on your behalf. 

Having reported the matter to the police, please report the incident to your insurance company or insurance brokers immediately.