It arose as a ballot bill sponsored by Mike Wood MP,[1] following Government review and consultations on the subject, and it received Home Office support to expedite its passage.

[2] As a result of the 2011 England riots, significant problems were exposed concerning the administration of claims intended to be indemnified under the scheme established under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886.

An independent review of the Act reported in 2013 that:[3] Following a round of public consultations, the Government broadly accepted the reviewer's recommendations, including extending limited compensation for damage to motor vehicles whose policies do not have coverage for riot damages, and further specified that the statutory definition for a riot should be drawn from the Public Order Act 1986.

[4] The implementing bill was introduced on 24 June 2015, and received royal assent on 23 March 2016.

The Act introduces several key changes, including:[1] Authority for making necessary regulations[c] by way of statutory instrument[12] came into effect on royal assent.