Ancient Warfare and Riot Tactics
How medieval formations influence modern riot policing
It might be hard to believe but 21st century riot tactics have a lot more in common with ancient and medieval warfare than you’d first think. A lot of the formations and tactics used today are adapted from ones first developed centuries, or even millennia, ago.
Naturally there is a difference between techniques used in the past and those practiced nowadays but this article will focus more on the similarities. It’s not intended to be an in-depth academic discussion, it’s more of a general observation and comparison.
Line
The line is probably one of the most recognisable police formations. It’s the main image that comes to mind when people picture a riot, a long line of black uniformed police with shields and batons.
It’s been in use since antiquity, through to the Middle Ages, and beyond into the early modern period. It’s a simple formation and a relatively easy one to organise. Line formations can vary from the slender two ranks popularised by British redcoats to the densely packed shieldwall or phalanx. It’s been used on the…
