Riot shields are lightweight protection devices deployed by police and some military organizations. Most are a clear polycarbonate, though some are constructed of light metals with a view hole. Riot shields are almost exclusively long enough to cover an average sized man from the top of the head to the knees. Some riot shields are designed to be bullet resistant against low velocity handguns and shotgun pellets, but most are not. They are generally intended to be used in hand to hand fighting and to protect the user from shrapnel, thrown projectiles, and splash from various weapons such as a Molotov cocktail. Riot shields are used in almost every country with a standardized police force and are produced by many companies. Many riot shields are constructed from clear transparent high impact plastic to enable the bearer to see incoming thrown objects, so that the shield can quickly be positioned to deflect them away from the user's body.
Contents |
Varieties
Riot shields can also come in various shapes. They often have two large handles: the user puts his left arm through the left handle and holds the right handle. Some shapes include:
- Round. A common size is 2 feet diameter.
- Rectangular with rounded corners, curved in the horizontal cross-section to shed thrown objects. A common size is 20 or 24 inches by 3 feet.
- The same, but also curved in the vertical cross-section at the top and bottom.
- A full length shield, rectangular in shape but tall enough for the bottom to be place on the ground. The right hand holds a handle at the top while the left hand holds a lower handle. The top of the shield is curved forward.
- There is a type of shield which is curved horizontally the "wrong" way, i.e. concave forwards. These are for handling an uncooperative prisoner or suspect in a cell or small room.
- Some shields are "ballistic", i.e. strong enough to resist firearms fire.
Riot shields are commonly used for protection from thrown objects or blunt/edged weapons, and not firearms. Ballistic shields are commonly known by the brand name, "Body Bunker", or "Baker Batshield". The extremely lightweight "Baker Batshield" ballistic shield is popular for police patrol first responders utilizing progressive "Immediate Action Rapid Deployment" (IARD) tactics when approaching high powered handgun, shotgun or sub-machine-gun threats. This portable, flexible, multi-sectioned ballistic shield enables the officer to fire a weapon with two hands as the shield is being simultaneously positioned in front of the bearer. "Body Bunker", ballistic shields are opaque with a small clear armored sight window and commonly have a bright light mounted on the frontal surface. Bunker shields are not normally used by riot Police but more often tactical SWAT teams as they are bulky, heavy and designed to be used during slow, methodical operations where there is an elevated risk of firearms being used against the officers.
Tactics
Ballistic Shields In a dynamic entry situation, a team of special police, such as SWAT try to clear a room quickly and decisively. For example one member would smash the door open with a battering ram, then step aside as the first team member wielding the shield entered the room and protected the door. The other team members would enter behind him and take control of the room. Riot Shields Riot control tactics vary between different Police and Military Forces the world over. Generally riot shields are used to protect the user from thrown objects and projectiles and interlinked with others to form a physical barrier against rioters/protesters etc. However, in extreme situations they have been seen used to push protesters back.
Popular culture
Riot shields are often used in SWAT-based TV shows and films. They may also be used in a video game to make an enemy more resistant to small arms fire.
