Riot control measures are used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful demonstration or unlawful protest.
American marines and Caribbean soldiers clashing during a riot control training exercise in 2011
GRM horse platoon and rioteers Paris - Place de la Concorde - 1934
The centre of the International Settlement of Shanghai, 1928.
Colombian Police armored riot control vehicle with water cannon ISBI
Non-lethal weapons, also called nonlethal weapons, less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than conventional weapons such as knives and firearms with live ammunition. It is often understood that unintended or incidental casualties are risked wherever force is applied, however non-lethal weapons minimise the risk of casualties as much as possible. Non-lethal weapons are used in policing and combat situations to limit the escalation of conflict where employment of lethal force is prohibited or undesirable, where rules of engagement require minimum casualties, or where policy restricts the use of conventional force. However, these weapons occasionally cause serious injuries or death due to allergic reactions, improper use and/or other factors; for this reason the term "less-lethal" has been preferred by some organizations as it describes the risks of death more accurately than the term "non-lethal", which some have argued is a misnomer.
An instruction on oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Demonstration of the use of a Taser gun on US military personnel. The device was originally developed for use by civilian police.
Long range acoustic device mounted on police vehicle, 2004 Republican National Convention, New York City
Swedish police in riot gear, carrying an extended telescopic baton