We're Not Equipped to Deal with Riots in This Country — and That's Good News

Following the 2024 English summer riots, courts have begun imposing strict sentences while authorities have taken an aggressive approach toward online instigators who fuelled the violence. However, the underlying patterns remain consistent with previous disturbances dating back decades.

The author observes that riot response typically involves police in protective gear forming defensive lines — described as appearing "flatfooted" compared to more proactive approaches used by other nations. He questions why Britain lacks specialised riot equipment and tactics available to countries like France and Germany.

The explanation offered is straightforward: riots occur infrequently enough that maintaining dedicated resources cannot be justified. Britain lacks a standing public order police force comparable to France's CRS or specialised equipment like water cannons and tear gas. A previous fleet of water cannons purchased during Boris Johnson's tenure as London Mayor remained unused for a decade before being scrapped.

The author argues that less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets have never been deployed on mainland Britain due to their potential lethality. Equipment like tear gas, while effective against individuals, proves indiscriminate against crowds and subject to environmental factors.

Ultimately, Britain's lack of riot readiness reflects a broader reality: the nation experiences civil unrest so rarely that comprehensive preparedness infrastructure remains economically and politically unjustifiable. And in that sense, it is good news.