Home Office to launch second riot review

The Home Office is set to launch an independent review and possible consultation around reforming the Riot (Damages) Act (RDA), after its own efforts failed.

The review will come in the new year, according to Home Office director of finance and performance directorate in the crime and policing group Stephen Webb.

Speaking at an event at City Hall to discuss the London Assembly’s report into the UK 2011 rioting, Webb said that the Home Office had heard contradictory views about what should happen to the act. The act’s wording has been criticised for being difficult to understand and apply.

He said: “I think it’s fair to say so far the review has been inconclusive.”

Webb would not rule out any options for the future of the act, including the scrapping of the legislation altogether.

He added: “Any review which requires changes to legislation is obviously going to go through a full consultation phase.”

In October the assembly published its report, Picking up the Pieces, which panned insurers for being slow to pay claims from the rioting. The report also said that more should have been done to speed up settlements and provide aid for businesses affected by the riots.