Operational Considerationsfor

Crowds and Mobs

Sid Heal, Senior Instructor

Never accept a confrontation on the terms offered!

11

Prevention vs. Intervention• Historically, military has focused on

intervention strategies, while law enforcement has focused on prevention strategies• Subtle differences in problem definition can

have profound impacts on problem resolution• Mobs and riots are more easily prevented

than controlled

10

Avoiding Riots• What causes a riot and what starts a riot

are distinctly and fundamentally different.• Cause of Riots

• Major Social Problems• Racial Bigotry, Social or Economic Disparity,

Perceived Injustice• Start of Riots

• A catalyst of some sort (almost always by authorities)

• Always identified in retrospect, consequently they have limited value for predicting or avoiding riots

9

Crowds and Mobs• Evolutionary in nature — they evolve, rather than

appear• Even spontaneous outbursts tend to follow somewhat

predictable patterns• Crowds and mobs require different responses

• Crowds require control• Mobs require intervention

• Early intervention can bethe key factor in control• Requires at least a rudimentary

an understanding ofcrowd and mob behavior

8

Debunking Stereotypes• Crowds are not homogeneous entities• Crowds are largely made up of

“companion clusters”• Most of the people arrive, act, and leave in small groups

• Crowds do not cripple individual cognition• Behavior is always objective oriented

• Participants seldom act in unison • Even when they do, the acts are simple and short lived• Participants are not unanimous in their motivation

7

Crowds vs. Mobs

• Require Substantial • Easily Provoked Provocation

• Members retain • “Mob Mentality”Individuality (Collectively Empowered)

• Retain Social • Breakdown of Constraints Social Controls

• Accept Authority • Belligerent and Adversarial

• Constitutionally Protected • A Menace to Society• Require Control • Require

Intervention

Crowds Mobs

6

Typical Mob Composition• Predominately males in late teens through late

twenties• Weapons are primitive and usually “at hand”• Leaders are more charismatic than competent• Focus is usually ad hoc with targets of opportunity

rather than preplanned• Initial focus is usually property rather than people• While authorities are targets, they are not usually first,

probably because of fear of retribution

5

Phases of a Gathering• The Assembling Process (best opportunities for

intervention)• Movement from different locations to a common location• May be Impromptu or Organized Mobilization• Most riots start after working hours and on weekends

• The Gathering• Collection of individuals and groups at a common location• Exhibit about 40 elementary forms of collective action

• The Dispersal Process (most commonly neglected)

• Movement of people from a common location to one or more alternate locations

• Routine, Emergency and Coerced Dispersals4

Shaping the Battlespace• People are comfort seeking creatures

• Muddy ground, wet grass, “porta-potties,” sprinklers, etc.

• Centers of Interest• Bands, food vendors, speakers, side-shows,

parking• Liaisons with all interests (including adversarial)• Mission Tasking as a deconfliction measure• News Media

• Inform the public• Prevent misconceptions

3

Critical Mass• A heuristic tool to aid tactical commanders• Uses three factors to estimate volatility

• Size — the larger the crowd, the more difficult it is to control• Splinter groups will nearly always exist• Increases the “fog” in decision making

• Emotion — the more emotion, the more spontaneous and irrational the members tend to be

• Commitment — the more commitment, the more predisposed are the members to attaining their ends

• These factors exist, and interact with one another, to a greater or lesser extent in every gathering

2

Rules of Engagement• Prevents a single individual from

committing the entire organization to an undesired course of action

• Provides the commander a means of control by retaining authority• Defining “sufficient

provocation”• Authority to arrest• Authority to intervene• Authorized weapons

and munitions

1

If you find yourself ina fair fight?

You didn’t prepare properly!

Sid Heal909-732-8325 H9692@Verizon.net