A riot or mob violence is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property or people.

"[1] There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that riots are not irrational, herd-like behavior (sometimes called mob mentality), but actually follow inverted social norms.

Riot police may use less-than-lethal methods of control, such as shotguns that fire flexible baton rounds to injure or otherwise incapacitate rioters for easier arrest.

When the public becomes desperate from such conditions, groups may attack shops, farms, homes, or government buildings to obtain bread or other staple foods like grain or salt.

"[5] Charles Wilson noted, "Spasmodic rises in food prices provoked keelmen on the Tyne to riot in 1709, tin miners to plunder granaries at Falmouth in 1727.

Early use of the term referred to riots that were often a mob action by members of a majority racial group against people of other perceived races.

Sports riots may happen as a result of teams contending for a championship, a long series of matches, or scores that are close.

Sports are the most common cause of riots in the United States, accompanying more than half of all championship games or series.

[citation needed] Almost all sports riots in the United States occur in the winning team's city.

While the weapons described above are officially designated as non-lethal, a number of people have died or been injured as a result of their use.

For example, seventeen deaths were caused by rubber bullets in Northern Ireland over the thirty five years between 1970 and 2005.

In 1988 the Israeli army issued rules of engagement for the use of plastic bullets which defined a "violent riot" as a disturbance with the participation of three or more persons, including stone throwing, erection of a barrier or barricade, burning a tire.

In the past, the Riot Act had to be read by an official – with the wording exactly correct – before violent policing action could take place.

A person convicted of riot is liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding ten years, or to a fine, or to both.

[17] See the following cases: In the case of riot connected to football hooliganism, the offender may be banned from football grounds for a set or indeterminate period of time and may be required to surrender their passport to the police for a period of time in the event of a club or international match, or international tournament, connected with the offence.

Section 10 of the Public Order Act 1986 now provides: As to this provision, see pages 84 and 85 of the Law Commission's report.

In New York, the term riot is not defined explicitly, but under § 240.08 of the New York Penal Law, "A person is guilty of inciting to riot when one urges ten or more persons to engage in tumultuous and violent conduct of a kind likely to create public alarm."