Riots covered but claim extension unlikely, says Questgates

QuestGates has said that the local police authority has a legal responsibility to reimburse persons who sustain damage to property as the result of a riot under the Riot Damages Act 1886.

The loss adjuster explained that the wording of the statute is explicit, in that any claim under the Act must ‘'be made in writing and received by the local police authority within 14 days of the alleged incident".

It is therefore likely that insurers will include a clause requiring that they are notified regarding claims for riot and/or civil commotion within seven days of the incident occurring. This is to prevent a recovery action being turned down by the police authority on basis that the