Riot Control Equipment - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Riot Control Equipment Market size is estimated at USD 7.52 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 9.25 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.24% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected the economy of countries in most of the regions, sales of riot control equipment were not largely affected during and after 2020. In fact, countries witnessed several protests and riots in the same year and later, resulting in law enforcement agencies using riot-control equipment to handle the crowds. The increased mass demonstrations, street riots, insurgency, and protests over the last decade have exposed security loopholes in North American and Europe countries. Investments in advanced riot control equipment have increased in recent years, driven by the government's focus on bridging the gaps between the requirement and the existing supply. Hence the market is witnessing several procurement and development activities related to the latest riot control equipment. This is expected to drive the market's growth in the coming years.
• Restrictions on the use of offensive riot control equipment by the governments and objections raised by human rights organizations have acted as a barrier to full-scale adoption of some of the equipment. Furthermore, it was observed that the lack of proper training on the use of the equipment has resulted in serious injuries in some countries over the years.
• The future riot control equipment may leverage the advancements in technology and will see the replacement of traditional equipment with technologically advanced equipment that can effectively overcome the challenges faced by the current systems. Significant work on electroshock weapons, directed energy weapons, and composite and lightweight defensive equipment are underway, which is expected to offer several growth opportunities to the market players in the future.

Riot Control Equipment Market Trends

The Offensive Equipment Segment is Expected to Experience the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period

• The offensive equipment segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing defense expenditure of emerging economies is expected to offer several growth opportunities to the stakeholders of the market during the forecast period. This, combined with the increase in violent protests and increasing mass shooting incidences, led to growing spending on police protection and is estimated to propel the growth of the segment during the forecast period.
• Furthermore, armed forces have been deployed in situations that require great restraint. Therefore, there is a need to apply force while limiting casualties, which emphasizes the need for advanced riot control equipment. Future weapons may rely on technology and strategy. Some of the riot control equipment that is currently under development are optical distractors, active denial technology, lasers, laser-induced plasmas, and focused acoustics.
• Laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC), an electroshock weapon, uses lasers, which, when fired into the atmosphere, cause the blooming of the gases to ionize into plasma, forming a channel for electricity. Such advanced offensive riot control equipment is expected to support the growth of this segment during the forecast period.

Europe is Expected to Experience the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period

• The European region is anticipated to have the highest growth during the forecast period. Several countries in Europe, like France, the United Kingdom, Greece, Romania, and Belgium, among others, are involved in riots and demonstrations due to dissatisfaction with the government. In February 2022, Protesters across several cities in the United Kingdom demonstrated to highlight how the spiraling cost of living crisis is affecting the public. The demonstrations, co-organized by the anti-austerity organization People's Assembly and supported by trade unions, were held in at least 25 towns and cities, from London to Glasgow to Bangor.
• The protests come as UK inflation jumped to 5.4% in December 2021, the highest rate in almost 30 years. In February 2022, French police fired tear gas at demonstrators on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris shortly after a "Freedom Convoy" protesting COVID-19 restrictions made it into the capital. Police created checkpoints, deployed armored personnel carriers, and set up water cannons to brace the city for the protests.
• In February 2022, thousands of people marched in torchlit processions and peaceful protests in various Italian cities to join the chorus of condemnation and urge an end to the bloodshed. The intelligence authorities warned the government to take necessary measures to be prepared for any violent protests that aggravate the situation. Such increasing instances in this region are fuelling the procurement and deployment of riot control equipment.

Riot Control Equipment Industry Overview

The riot control equipment market is moderately fragmented, with many players who supply different types of products, such as protective gear and non-lethal equipment. Some of the prominent players in the riot control equipment market include Condor Non-lethal Technologies, Safariland LLC, Genasys, Inc., Combined Systems Inc., and PACEM Defense. The development of new protective equipment, like shields, vests, and helmets with new materials that are lighter in weight with better strength, may help the players gain market share. Moreover, the consolidation of the market, due to mergers and acquisitions of the market players, is expected to intensify the market competition.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support