ACS Opposes Government Plans to Limit Riot Compensation

ACS has called for Government to scrap plans to impose a cap on the size of business that is eligible for compensation under the Riot Damages Act. 

The Riot Damages Act that was used to assess compensation during the 2011 riots was originally published in 1886. In the Government’s consultation to modernise the Act, they state that there is a strong moral case for continuing to ensure that individuals and small businesses are protected from uninsured losses in the event of a riot. However, the consultation proposes that only businesses with a turnover of less than £2m should be eligible to claim compensation under the Act. 

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “During the last riots in 2011, many businesses were significantly damaged and were only able to re-open with the help of compensation through the Riot Damages Act. We agree that the Act requires reform, but strongly believe that all businesses should be considered for compensation. The exclusion of businesses with over £2m turnover would mean that many of our members with two or three shops or even a single forecourt site would be ineligible for compensation, due to the high turnover nature of their business.”