Riot Reforms – Riot Damages Act 1886

July 15, 2013

Riot Reforms

Following calls from the insurance industry for urgent government reforms relating to riot damage, the government has announced a review of the Riot Damages Act 1886.

The Association of British Insurers responded quickly to the riots and have now settled over 98% of household claims, 93% of small business claims and 99% of large commercial claims.

Despite insurers settling the vast majority of claims, over half of claims submitted to police authorities under the Riot Damages Act have been declined.

The government review will look at the definition of what constitutes a riot; current criteria for compensation payable under the act, level of entitlement and who should be liable.

The industry is calling for clear processes for police as well as review of the notification period and time limit.  The government review is expected to go until the end of 2013.

We’ve been busier than usual here at AE Insurance Brokers lately. As part of our ongoing commitment to staying current and effective, we recently underwent a brand refresh. While it looked like a cosmetic change - a new logo, a fresh colour palette and font - the process was actually a deep dive into who we are, how we serve our clients, and where the industry is heading.

And while we were looking in the mirror, something struck us: many businesses don’t look in theirs often enough.

When we talk to UK business owners one pattern emerges consistently. Companies grow, pivot, hire, launch new products, or expand into new territories. Yet their insurance policies often remain frozen in time, reflecting the version of the business that existed twelve months ago - or worse, five years ago.

Insurance is often treated as a compliance checkbox: a bill that needs paying, a certificate that needs sending. But if your business has changed, your risk profile has changed too, and when your policy doesn’t match your reality, you’re likely overpaying and potentially leaving dangerous gaps in your protection.

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