
Balancing Protection Safety and Performance: What Makes Riot Gear Effective in Crowd Control
Crowd control is challenging for public safety teams of all sizes and responsibility levels. Whether you’re equipping private security teams for concert venues or supplying a public police force, the challenges remain the same. Choosing riot gear that is effective for crowd control requires understanding what officers face on the ground in these situations. Prepare your enforcement team for overwhelming and potentially aggressive crowds with the right gear that prioritizes these features.
Heat Control and Ventilation Features
Public safety officers responding to a riot or crowd event may face profound heat exhaustion and heat stroke risks depending on the environment and time of year. Thanks to the insulating effects of protective gear like vests and helmets, outdoor temperatures don’t need to soar to risk these health issues. Ventilated riot gear built with heat control in mind is highly recommended for summer use, or even year-round use in some climates. Ventilation is vital in protecting officers when aerosolized crowd control agents are deployed.
Maximum Visibility
Visibility is key when dealing with a large crowd and the possibility of being surrounded or cut off from a unit. Helmets that allow for full peripheral vision are recommended since physical threats and risks can come from any side. Maintaining a good line of visibility on both sides also ensures a stronger line formation, preventing breaks that can lead to opportunities for disruption.
Consider partial helmets or visors for events where thrown projectiles or improvised weapons are unlikely. These pieces of riot headgear help protect against liquids and sprays, but they also provide unobstructed vision while maximizing air flow to keep officers cooler.
Cohesive Gear Appearance
Riot gear uniforms are often designed with psychological impact in mind, not just physical safety factors. Outfitting your officers in matching gear sends a message that they are united, trained for this scenario, and ready to act as a team. Optional gear like riot shields and batons helps enforce the line formation that allows your enforcement group to sweep through an area without breaking apart or encountering resistance.
To achieve a cohesive unit appearance, you need to select pieces that all of your team members are capable and willing to wear. Some riot officers may also prefer equipment that obscures their faces or otherwise protects their identity. Take this into consideration when ordering gear.
Uninterrupted Mobility
Law enforcement professionals responding to rapidly changing crowd situations must be able to move when necessary. This can include climbing, crawling, jumping over barriers, and entering and exiting vehicles in full gear. Riot gear that is lightweight and designed with mobility in mind will leave them ready to act and energetic enough to deal with whatever comes. Heavy, stiff protective wear is outdated in today’s demanding riot environment. Unless the heaviest complete protection suits are needed, stick with lighter gear that prioritizes safe movement.
Reliable Riot Gear Protection
Riot gear should work with the safety vests, head and ear protection, and defensive weaponry your team already relies on.
These riot gear upgrades only work if officers are comfortable using them. Avoid combinations that don’t work well together, requiring your team members to choose between riot gear or their everyday carry. Consider vests, arm guards, and leg covers that fit around the holsters, belts, and other equipment your officers use daily to create a complete set that fits how they work.
Accidental Injury Prevention
Not all of the threats to riot officers come directly from aggressive crowds. Even peaceful crowds can suddenly surge or create crushing conditions, and officers are often caught up in the mix. Many trip and fall hazards are also around most events and public sites. The best gear will protect your officers from these accidental injury risks and targeted attacks. This gives them the peace of mind to stay focused and alert, preventing accidents and allowing them to provide a higher level of safety to those around them.