rave revellers at illegal Halloween clash with riot police in London

So many riot police vehicles lined up ! ~ it is in South London.

Recent news would make us link such acts to Calais or those migrants resting under trees after another night of gambling with their  life on the tracks of the Channel Tunnel – to them it is not any game – it is migration at a high price. One with a high price. It's England or it's death.” – and England is not alone – so is rest of Europe.

In Property Insurances and Motor insurance too, ‘riot’ is an insured peril.  A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property or people. Riots typically involve vandalism and the destruction of property, public or private. The property targeted varies depending on the riot and the inclinations of those involved. Targets can include shops, cars, restaurants, state-owned institutions, and religious buildings. Riots often occur in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent.  Riots are typically dealt with by the police.  In India, it is lathi charge and teargas; in many Western countries it includes :  attack dogs, water cannons, plastic bullets, rubber bullets, pepper spray, flexible baton rounds, and snatch squads. Some Nations have dedicated divisions to deal with public order situations.

In India, rioting is dealt under Indian Penal Code.  Under Sec 146 : Rioting : Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.  Under Sec 147, Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.  However, rioting armed with deadly weapon which is likely to cause death is punishable up to 3 years or with fine or both. 

Riot is a statutory offence in England and Wales. It is created by the Public Order Act 1986.  There the definition includes :  Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.  It is immaterial whether or not the 12 or more use or threaten unlawful violence simultaneously.  The common purpose may be inferred from conduct.  No person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.  Riot may be committed in private as well as in public places.  The word "violence" is defined by section 8. The violence can be against the person or against property.

Moving away from crime - Halloween, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of All Hallows' Day.  It reportedly is dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints.  Trick-or-treating is a Halloween custom for children in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house asking for treats such as candy with the phrase "Trick or treat". The "trick" is a (usually idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given to them.

News reports state that an out-of-control car ploughed into a group of trick-or-treaters and their parents in New York City on Saturday, killing three people, including a ten-year-old girl, police said. The incident happened just before 5pm in the Morris Park neighbourhood of the Bronx. The victims had been trick-or-treating when a Dodge Charger driven by 52-year-old Howard Unger went onto the sidewalk and struck them, a spokesman for the New York Police Department said.

In London, situation turned worse as Police were pelted with missiles and a suspected petrol bomb as they battled for six hours to stop an illegal Halloween rave.  MailOnline reports that angry partygoers set an object on fire in the road, throwing chairs and bottles at riot police and yelling 'scum' and 'pigs' at the riot police armed with batons and shields. A number of illegal ravers were arrested and at least four police officers suffered minor injuries after the 'Scumoween' event in Lambeth, south London, turned violent at around midnight.

In its aftermath, the streets of Lambeth, south London, were strewn with chairs, broken bottles and debris after illegal ravers clashed with police.  Riot police armed with batons and shields were on the scene throughout the night, dealing with what they called 'public disorder and criminal damage.    It is stated that thousands had descended on Devil's Dyke in Surret to take part in the illegal rave which turned into a nightmare.  Violence erupted as hundreds of people tried to get inside. A shocking video showed hundreds of partygoers running down the, clashing with riot police and setting a bin on fire.

Police said the revellers, who threw bangers at officers, caused criminal damage to cars and houses in the residential area. Riot police with dogs and shields were seen drawing their batons against a charging crowd. The rave was finally closed down at 6am. Police remained at the scene and moved people on from inside the venue. Police said the 'post incident investigation' has begun and appealed for witnesses to the disorder or anyone with information to come forward.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

1^st Nov. 2015.