Riot police arepolice who are organized, deployed, trained or equipped to confrontcrowds,protests orriots.
Riot police may be regular police officers who act in the role of riot police in particular situations, or they may be separate units organized within or in parallel to regular police forces. Riot police are used in a variety of different situations and purposes. They may be employed tocontrol riots as their name suggests, to disperse orcontrol crowds, tomaintain public order or discouragecriminality, or to protect people or property. Themilitarization of modern police has brought militaristic riot gear and new technologies that allow for their duties to expand above normal police duties.[1]
Through the 1900s and into the 2000s, riot gear technology has advanced with the help of the militarization of riot police organizations. Some riot gear technology, includingtear gas, was originally created for its use in the military, specifically the First World War.[2] In the United States in 1969, it was recorded that the riot police had extensive militarized gear including bulletproof vests, multiple-purpose grenades,water cannons, helicopters,batons, radio communication, barbed wire, police shields, and riot vehicles.[2] In 2017, economic and political protests in Venezuela brought upon a new era of Venezuelan riot police gear with military vehicles that included features liketear gas launchers andwater cannons.[2] The military vehicles were used as perimeter defense lines to contain the protests, and provide the riot police with enough power to inhibit the advancing violence. These military vehicles used by riot police around the world are commonly sourced from military product companies includingNorinco, a Chinese military product manufacturer.[2]
In the United States, the federal 1033 program allows for police departments, including riot police units, to request military equipment for circumstances that have arrived or that may arrive in the future.[1] Because of this program, police militarization has expanded across each state allowing state riot police to receive military style gear similar to that of theSpecial Weapons and Tactics teams.[1] The police departments that received 1033 program funding are primarily smaller police departments.[1]
Riot gear became the key tools for police forces to combat large demonstrations, including political and economic protests and labor demonstrations, that sought change without the explicit consent of the presiding government.[2]
Riot police are tasked with police operations that require advanced tactics and equipment to control crowds and maintain public order. These duties may differ between riot police organizations in different countries, but they are often similar in that they are tasked with maintaining order that is decided on by the presiding government.
In Poland, for example, riot police are used in a variety of different ways including but not limited to:[3]
Maintaining public order when threats from risk assessed sources are present.
Searching and assisting police forces in capturing wanted fugitives.
In case of widespread emergency, acting as a mobile force to protect and serve the public.
Securing government officials, particularly from foreign countries, during their travels.
Maintaining public order during demonstrations including political protests.
Supporting police forces in apprehending and suppressing criminal group activities.
Acting as backup police force for any police units that may need assistance in their everyday duties.
Participating and overseeing training for riot police units and non-riot police units.
Portugal –Corpo de Intervenção | Unidade Especial de Polícia | Polícia de Segurança Pública and Grupo de Intervenção e Ordem Publica/ Guarda Nacional Republicana
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