This is a modern-English version of The Riot Act, originally written by Great Britain. Parliament. It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

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Full text of the Riot Act (c. 1714 - 1715)









Typed in this February 8, 2002 by
          Jonathan Walther.
          The source was cap V, volume XIII, pages
          142-146 of the "Statutes At Large" series,
          printed in the year 1764. Also indexed as
          "Anno primo GEORGEII I. Stat. 2. C. 5."
          Many sources on the Internet claim the Riot Act was
          passed in 1715; according to Statutes At Large
          it was passed in 1714. The confusion may be caused by the
          fact that the Act took effect in August of 1715.
          This is, of course, the famous Riot Act that gave
          rise to the expression Read them the
          Riot Act!.
Typed on February 8, 2002 by  
          Jonathan Walther.  
          The source was cap V, volume XIII, pages  
          142-146 of the "Statutes At Large" series,  
          printed in 1764. Also indexed as  
          "Anno primo GEORGEII I. Stat. 2. C. 5."  
          Many online sources claim the Riot Act was  
          passed in 1715; however, according to Statutes At Large,  
          it was passed in 1714. The confusion may stem from the  
          fact that the Act took effect in August 1715.  
          This is, of course, the famous Riot Act that led  
          to the phrase Read them the Riot Act!.


CAP. V.


An act for preventing tumults and riotous
          assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual
          punishing the rioters.
An act to prevent disturbances and chaotic gatherings, and to more quickly and effectively punish those causing unrest.






I.


Whereas of late
          many rebellious riots and tumults have been in divers
          parts of this kingdom, to the disturbance of the publick
          peace, and the endangering of his Majesty's person and
          government, and the same are yet continued and fomented
          by persons disaffected to his Majesty, presuming so to
          do, for that the punishments provided by the laws now in
          being are not adequate to such heinous offences; and by
          such rioters his Majesty and his administration have been
          most maliciously and falsly traduced, with an intent to
          raise divisions, and to alienate the affections of the
          people from his Majesty therefore for the preventing and
          suppressing of such riots and tumults, and for the more
          speedy and effectual punishing the offenders therein;
          be it enacted by the King's most
          excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of
          the lords spiritual and temporal and of the commons, in
          this present parliament assembled, and by the authority
          of the same, That if any persons to the number of twelve
          or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously
          assembled together, to the disturbance of the publick
          peace, at any time after the last day of July in
          the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
          fifteen, and being required or commanded by any one or
          more justice or justices of the peace, or by the sheriff
          of the county, or his under-sheriff, or by the mayor,
          bailiff or bailiffs, or other head-officer, or justice of
          the peace of any city or town corporate, where such
          assembly shall be, by proclamation to be made in the
          King's name, in the form herin after directed, to
          disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their
          habitations, or to their lawful business, shall, to the
          number of twelve or more (notwithstanding such
          proclamation made) unlawfully, riotously, and
          tumultuously remain or continue together by the space of
          one hour after such command or request made by
          proclamation, that then such continuing together to the
          number of twelve or more, after such command or request
          made by proclamation, shall be adjudged felony without
          benefit of clergy, and the offenders therein shall be
          adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in a case of
          felony without benefit of clergy.
Whereas recently there have been numerous rebellious riots and disturbances in various parts of this kingdom, disrupting public peace and putting his Majesty's safety and government at risk, and these actions are still ongoing and being fueled by individuals opposed to his Majesty, who assume they can act this way because the current laws do not impose sufficient punishments for such serious offenses; and these rioters have maliciously and falsely defamed his Majesty and his administration, intending to create divisions and turn the public's loyalty away from him; therefore, to prevent and suppress such riots and disturbances, and to punish the offenders more quickly and effectively; Be it enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and of the commons, in this current parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that if any group of twelve or more people, unlawfully, violently, and disruptively gathered, disturbs public peace at any time after the last day of July in the year 1715, and if they are ordered by any justice of the peace, the county sheriff or his under-sheriff, or by the mayor, bailiff, or any other chief officer of any city or corporate town, to disperse and return peacefully to their homes or lawful business, and if they, numbering twelve or more, continue unlawfully, violently, and disruptively gathered for more than one hour after such command or request made by proclamation, then their continued gathering of twelve or more after such command shall be considered a felony without benefit of clergy, and those involved shall be deemed felons and face the death penalty as in any felony case without benefit of clergy.






II.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That the order and form of the proclamation that shall be
          made by the authority of this act, shall be as hereafter
          followeth (that is to say) the justice of the peace, or
          other person authorized by this act to make the said
          proclamation shall, among the said rioters, or as near to
          them as he can safely come, with a loud voice command, or
          cause to be commanded silence to be, while proclamation
          is making, and after that, shall openly and with loud
          voice make or cause to be made proclamation in these
          words, or like in effect:
And it is further enacted by the aforementioned authority that the order and format of the proclamation made under this act shall be as follows: the justice of the peace or another person authorized by this act to make the proclamation shall, among the rioters or as close to them as can be done safely, loudly command silence while the proclamation is being made. After that, they shall publicly and loudly make or cause to be made the proclamation in these words, or something similar:




Our sovereign
            Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons,
            being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves,
            and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to
            their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the
            act made in the first year of King George, for
            preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the
            King.




Our sovereign Lord the King commands everyone present to leave immediately and return home or attend to their lawful business, as per the penalties outlined in the law established in the first year of King George, which is designed to prevent disturbances and disorderly gatherings. Long live the King.




And every such justice and justices of the peace,
          sheriff, under-sheriff, mayor, bailiff, and other
          head-officer aforesaid, within the limits of their
          respective jurisdictions, are hereby authorized,
          impowered and required, on notice or knowledge of any
          such unlawful, riotous and tumultuous assembly, to resort
          to the place where such unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous
          assemblies shall be, of persons to the number of twelve
          or more, and there to make or cause to be made
          proclamation in manner aforesaid.
And every justice and justice of the peace, sheriff, undersheriff, mayor, bailiff, and other head officers mentioned above, within the boundaries of their respective areas, are hereby authorized, empowered, and required, upon receiving notice or becoming aware of any unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous gathering, to go to the location where such unlawful, riotous, and tumultuous assemblies are happening, consisting of twelve or more people, and there to make or ensure a proclamation is made in the manner described above.






III.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That if such persons so unlawfully, riotously, and
          tumultuously assembled, or twelve or more of them, after
          proclamation made in manner aforesaid, shall continue
          together and not disperse themselves within one hour,
          That then it shall and may be lawful to and for every
          justice of the peace, sheriff, or under-sheriff of the
          county where such assembly shall be, and also to and for
          every high or petty constable, and other peace-officer
          within such county, and also to and for every mayor,
          justice of the peace, sheriff, bailiff, and other
          head-officer, high or petty constable, and other
          peace-officer of any city or town corporate where such
          assembly shall be, and to and for such other person and
          persons as shall be commanded to be assisting unto any
          such justice of the peace, sheriff or under-sheriff,
          mayor, bailiff, or other head-officer aforesaid (who are
          hereby authorized and impowered to command all his
          Majesty's subjects of age and ability to be assisting to
          them therein) to seize and apprehend, and they are hereby
          required to seize and apprehend such persons so
          unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously continuing
          together after proclamation made, as aforesaid, and
          forthwith to carry the persons so apprehended before one
          or more of his Majesty's justices of the peace of the
          county or place where such persons shall be so
          apprehended, in order to their being proceeded against
          for such their offences according to law; and that if the
          persons so unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously
          assembled, or any of them, shall happen to be killed,
          maimed or hurt, in the dispersing, seizing or
          apprehending, or endeavouring to disperse, seize or
          apprehend them, that then every such justice of the
          peace, sheriff, under-sheriff, mayor, bailiff,
          head-officer, high or petty constable, or other
          peace-officer, and all and singular persons, being aiding
          and assisting to them, or any of them, shall be free,
          discharged and indemnified, as well against the King's
          Majesty, his heirs and successors, as against all and
          every other person and persons, of, for, or concerning
          the killing, maiming, or hurting of any such person or
          persons so unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously
          assembled, that shall happen to be so killed, maimed or
          hurt, as aforesaid.
And it is further enacted by the authority mentioned above,  
          That if individuals are unlawfully, riotously, and  
          tumultuously gathered, or if twelve or more of them, after  
          a proclamation has been made as stated, do not disperse  
          within one hour, then it shall be lawful for any justice  
          of the peace, sheriff, or under-sheriff of the county  
          where this gathering occurs, and also for every high or  
          petty constable and other peace officer in that county,  
          as well as for any mayor, justice of the peace, sheriff,  
          bailiff, or other head officer, high or petty constable,  
          and other peace officer of any city or town where such  
          assembly occurs, and for anyone else directed to assist  
          any of these officials (who are authorized and empowered  
          to command all of His Majesty's subjects who are of age  
          and ability to help them in this matter) to seize and  
          apprehend, and they are hereby required to seize and  
          apprehend such persons unlawfully, riotously, and  
          tumultuously gathered after the aforementioned  
          proclamation, and immediately take the apprehended  
          individuals before one or more of His Majesty's justices  
          of the peace in the county or location where they are  
          apprehended, to be dealt with for their offenses according  
          to the law; and if the individuals unlawfully, riotously,  
          and tumultuously assembled, or any of them, happen to be  
          killed, injured, or harmed while dispersing, seizing, or  
          apprehending them, or attempting to do so, then every  
          justice of the peace, sheriff, under-sheriff, mayor,  
          bailiff, head officer, high or petty constable, or other  
          peace officer, and all individuals assisting them shall be  
          free, exempt, and protected from liability, both against  
          the King, his heirs, and successors, as well as against  
          any other person or persons, for the killing, injuring,  
          or harming of any individuals unlawfully, riotously, and  
          tumultuously gathered who happen to be killed, injured,  
          or harmed as stated.






IV.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That if any persons unlawfully, riotously and
          tumultuously assembled together, to the disturbance of
          the publick peace, shall unlawfully, and with force
          demolish or pull down, or begin to demolish or pull down
          any church or chapel, or any building for religious
          worship certified and registred according to the statute
          made in the first year of the reign of the late King
          William and Queen Mary, intituled, An
          act for exempting their Majesty's protestant subjects
          dissenting from the church of England from the
          penalties of certain laws, or any dwelling-house,
          barn, stable, or other out-house, that then every such
          demolishing, or pulling down, or beginning to demolish,
          or pull down, shall be adjudged felony without benefit of
          clergy, and the offenders therein shall be adjudged
          felons, and shall suffer death as in case of felony,
          without benefit of clergy.
And it’s further enacted by the above authority that if any group of people gathers unlawfully, in a riotous and disorderly manner, disrupting public peace, and unlawfully uses force to demolish or begin to demolish any church or chapel, or any building for religious worship that has been certified and registered according to the law from the first year of the reign of the late King William and Queen Mary, titled An act for exempting their Majesty's protestant subjects dissenting from the church of England from the penalties of certain laws, or any dwelling, barn, stable, or other outbuilding, then all such acts of demolition or attempts to demolish shall be considered a felony without the option of clergy, and those who commit these acts shall be considered felons and shall face the death penalty as is the case for felony, without the option of clergy.






V.


Provided always, and be it further enacted by the
          authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons do, or
          shall, with force and arms, wilfully and knowingly
          oppose, obstruct, or in any manner wilfully and knowingly
          lett, hinder, or hurt any person or persons that shall
          begin to proclaim, or go to proclaim according to the
          proclamation hereby directed to be made, whereby such
          proclamation shall not be made, that then every such
          apposing, obstructing, letting, hindering or hurting such
          person or persons, so beginning or going to make such
          proclamation, as aforesaid, shall be adjudged felony
          without benefit of clergy, and the offenders therein
          shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in
          case of felony, without benefit of clergy; and that also
          every such person or persons so being unlawfully,
          riotously and tumultuously assembled, to the number of
          twelve, as aforesaid, or more, to whom proclamation
          should or ought to have been made if the same had not
          been hindred, as aforesaid, shall likewise, in case they
          or any of them, to the number of twelve or more, shall
          continue together, and not disperse themselves within one
          hour after such lett or hindrance so made, having
          knowledge of such lett or hindrance so made, shall be
          adjudged felons, and shall suffer death as in case of
          felony, without benefit of clergy.
Provided always, and let it be further enacted by the authority mentioned above, that if any person or persons intentionally and knowingly use force or arms to oppose, obstruct, or in any way intentionally and knowingly prevent, hinder, or harm anyone who starts to announce or goes to announce according to the proclamation specified in this act, thereby preventing such proclamation from being made, then everyone who opposes, obstructs, prevents, hinders, or harms those who begin or go to make such proclamation, as stated, shall be considered a felon without benefit of clergy, and the offenders shall be judged as felons and shall face the death penalty as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy. Furthermore, any person or persons unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously gathered, numbering twelve or more, who should have heard the proclamation if it had not been hindered, shall also be deemed felons if they, or any of them, numbering twelve or more, remain together and fail to disperse within one hour after such obstruction, with knowledge of the obstruction. They too shall face the death penalty as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy.






VI.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That if after the said last day of July one
          thousand seven hundred and fifteen, any such church or
          chapel, or any such building for religious worship, or
          any such dwelling-house, barn, stable, or other
          out-house, shall be demolished or pulled down wholly, or
          in part, by any persons so unlawfully, riotously and
          tumultuously assembled, that then, in case such church,
          chapel, building for religious worship, dwelling-house,
          barn, stable, or out-house, shall be out of any city or
          town, that is either a county of itself, or is not within
          any hundred, that then the inhabitants of the hundred in
          which such damage shall be done, shall be liable to yield
          damages to the person or persons injured and damnified by
          such demolishing or pulling down wholly or in part; and
          such damages shall and may be recovered by action to be
          brought in any of his Majesty's courts of record at
          Westminster, (wherein no effoin, protection or
          wager of law, or any imparlance shall be allowed) by the
          person or persons damnified thereby, against any two or
          more of the inhabitants of such hundred, such action for
          damages to any church or chapel to be brought in the name
          of the rector, vicar or curate of such church or chapel
          that shall be so damnified, in trust for applying the
          damages to be recovered in rebuilding or repairing such
          church or chapel; and that judgment being given for the
          plaintiff or plaintiffs in such action, the damages so to
          be recovered shall, at the request of such plaintiff or
          plaintiffs, his or their executors or administrators, be
          raised and levied on the inhabitants of such hundred, and
          paid to such plaintiff or plaintiffs, in such manner and
          form, and by such ways and means, as are provided by the
          statute made in the seven and twentieth year of the reign
          of Queen Elizabeth, for reimbursing the person or
          persons on whom any money recovered against any hundred
          by any party robbed, shall be levied: and in case any
          such church, chapel, building for religious worship,
          dwelling-house, barn, stable, or out-house so damnified,
          shall be in any city or town that is either a county of
          itself, or is not within any hundred, that then such
          damages shall and may be recovered by action to be
          brought in manner aforesaid (where no effoin, protection
          or wager of law, or any imparlance shall be allowed)
          against two or more inhabitants of such city or town; and
          judgment being given for the plaintiff or plaintiffs in
          such action, the damages so to be recovered shall, at the
          request of such plaintiff or plaintiffs, his or their
          executors or administrators, made to the justices of the
          peace of such city or town at any quarter-sessions to be
          holden for the said city or town, be raised and levied on
          the inhabitants of such city or town, and paid to such
          plaintiff or plaintiffs, in such manner and form, and by
          such ways and means, as are provided by the said statute
          made in the seven and twentieth year of the reign of
          Queen Elizabeth, for reimbursing the person or
          persons on whom any money recovered against any hundred
          by any party robbed, shall be levied.
And it is further enacted by the authority mentioned above,  
          That if after the last day of July in the year  
          one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, any church or  
          chapel, or any building used for religious worship, or  
          any home, barn, stable, or other out-building, is completely  
          or partially demolished by people unlawfully, riotously,  
          and tumultuously gathered, then if the church, chapel,  
          building for worship, home, barn, stable, or out-building  
          is located outside any city or town that is its own county,  
          or is not within any hundred, the residents of the hundred  
          where the damage occurs will be responsible for compensating  
          the individual or individuals harmed by such demolition;  
          and such damages may be claimed through an action brought  
          in any of the King’s courts at Westminster,  
          (where no effoin, protection, wager of law, or any delay  
          shall be allowed) by the injured person or persons against  
          any two or more residents of that hundred, with actions  
          for damages to any church or chapel to be filed in the name  
          of the rector, vicar, or curate of the church or chapel  
          affected, in trust to use the recovered damages for rebuilding  
          or repairing the church or chapel; and if a judgment is  
          given for the plaintiff or plaintiffs in such a case, the  
          damages awarded shall, at the request of the plaintiff or  
          plaintiffs, or their executors or administrators, be collected  
          from the residents of that hundred, and paid to the plaintiff  
          or plaintiffs, in the manner and form, and by the ways  
          and means set forth by the statute made in the twenty-seventh  
          year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, concerning the  
          reimbursement of individuals from whom money recovered against  
          a hundred by any robbed party shall be collected: and if any  
          church, chapel, building for worship, home, barn, stable,  
          or out-building suffering damage is located in a city or  
          town that is its own county, or not within any hundred,  
          then such damages may be recovered through an action brought  
          as described above (where no effoin, protection, wager of  
          law, or any delay shall be allowed) against two or more  
          inhabitants of that city or town; and when a judgment is  
          awarded for the plaintiff or plaintiffs in this action,  
          the damages recovered shall, at the request of the plaintiff  
          or plaintiffs, or their executors or administrators, made to  
          the justices of the peace of that city or town at any  
          quarter-sessions held for that city or town, be collected  
          from the residents of that city or town, and paid to the  
          plaintiff or plaintiffs, in the manner and form, and by the  
          ways and means provided by the said statute made in the  
          twenty-seventh year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth,  
          regarding the reimbursement of those from whom any money  
          recovered against any hundred by any robbed party shall  
          be collected.






VII.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That this act shall be openly read at every
          quarter-session, and at every leet or law-day.
And it is further enacted by the aforementioned authority,  
          That this act shall be read aloud at every  
          quarterly session, and at every leet or law day.






VIII.


Provided always, That no person or persons shall be
          prosecuted by virtue of this act, for any offence or
          offences committed contrary to the same, unless such
          prosecution be commenced within twelve months after the
          offence committed.
Provided always, that no individual or individuals shall be prosecuted under this act for any offense or offenses committed against it, unless such prosecution is initiated within twelve months after the offense was committed.






IX.


And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
          That the sheriffs and their deputies, stewards and their
          deputies, bailies of regalities and their deputies,
          magistrates of royal boroughs, and all other inferior
          judges and magistrates, and also all high and petty
          constables, or other peace-officers of any county,
          stewartry, city or town, within that part of Great
          Britain called Scotland, shall have the same
          powers and authority for putting this present act in
          execution within Scotland, as the justices of the
          peace and other magistrates aforesaid, respectively have
          by virtue of this act, within and for the other parts of
          this kingdom; and that all and every person and persons
          who shall at any time be convicted of any the offences
          aforementioned, within that part of Great Britain
          called Scotland, shall for every such offence
          incur and suffer the pain of death, and confiscation of
          moveables: and also that all prosecutions for repairing
          the damages of any church or chapel, or any building for
          religious worship, or any dwelling-house, barn, stable or
          out-house, which shall be demolished or pulled down in
          whole or in part, within Scotland, by any persons
          unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously assembled, shall
          and may be recovered by summar action, at the instance of
          the party aggrieved, his or her heirs or executors,
          against the county, stewartry, city or borough
          respectively, where such disorders shall happen, the
          magistrates being summoned in the ordinary form, and the
          several counties and stewartries called by edictal
          citation at the market-cross of the head borough of such
          county or stewartry respectively, and that in general,
          without mentioning their names and designations.
And further, it is enacted by the aforementioned authority that sheriffs and their deputies, stewards and their deputies, bailies of regalities and their deputies, magistrates of royal boroughs, and all other lower judges and magistrates, as well as all high and petty constables or other peace officers of any county, stewartry, city, or town within that part of Great Britain known as Scotland, shall have the same powers and authority to enforce this act within Scotland, as justices of the peace and other aforementioned magistrates have under this act for other parts of this kingdom. Furthermore, anyone convicted of any of the offenses mentioned above, within that part of Great Britain known as Scotland, shall incur the death penalty and forfeiture of movable property for each offense. Additionally, all prosecutions for recompensing damages to any church or chapel, or any building for religious worship, or any house, barn, stable, or outbuilding that has been demolished or partially destroyed in Scotland by any unlawfully, riotously, or tumultuously assembled persons may be pursued through a summary action by the aggrieved party, their heirs, or executors against the respective county, stewartry, city, or borough where such disturbances occur, with the magistrates being summoned in the usual manner and the counties and stewartries being called through public citation at the market-cross of the main borough of that county or stewartry, in general, without specifying their names and titles.






X.


Provided, and it is hereby declared, That this act
          shall extend to all places for religious worship, in that
          part of Great Britain called Scotland,
          which are tolerated by law, and where his majesty King
          George, the prince and princess of Wales,
          and their issue, are prayed for in express words.
Provided, and it is hereby declared, that this act shall extend to all places for religious worship in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, which are allowed by law, and where His Majesty King George, the prince and princess of Wales, and their descendants are specifically prayed for.









        
        
    

    
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