The world watched in disbelief as a wave of lawlessness swept
from Tottenham on 6 August 2011 throughout London and across the
UK. For many, homes, premises and livelihoods have been wiped out
in a matter of days. As the UK counts the costs of repairing the
damage, we set out below a guide to making a claim under the Riot
(Damages) Act 1886.
Introduction
The Riot (Damages) Act 1886 (the Act) places a strict liability
on the police fund to compensate any person (including corporate
bodies) who/that has sustained losses as a result of acts of theft
or damage to their property arising from a riot. Ordinarily, claims
must be made within 14 days of the damage or theft taking place and
must follow the format prescribed in the Riot Damage Regulations
1921 (the Regulations). However, on 11 August 2011, the UK
Government announced an extension of the deadline to 42 days for
claims to be submitted. In addition, a simplified Riot Damages Act
Claim Form has just been released.
