User:Sirryan2002
Assigned to:Sirryan2002
Introduction
Life on the NSS Cyberiad is far from perfect and sometimes downright awful. Occasionally citizens cannot find work or a crew member was viciously beaten by security and the crew's anger level begins to rise. This is to be expected, NanoTrasen has blessed the crew with the right to peacefully protest. However, from time-to-time, these protestors will turn violent once they realize their message falls on deaf ears. It is up to you to remind them that civil liberties are not a right but actually a privilege that can easily be taken away.
Descalating Conflict
Often, the most effective way to contain a riot is to stop it from happening in the first place. Believe it or not, communicating with the protestors and listening to them prevents bloodshed. If their complaint is reasonable then do what you can to ameliorate the issue. It often helps to call in a mediator such as the IAA, Magistrate, or Captain to facilitate diplomatic conversation. Keep security officers away from the protest until they're needed. An officer's presence is an opportunity for a brawl to break out. Don't do anything to make the protestors feel threatened and do not arrest anyone unless they are directly committing a crime.
Preparing For The Worst
Once it is apparent that the diplomatic option isn't working you should take preventative action. Order officers to equip pepper spray, flashes, stun batons, zip ties, and security holobarrier projectors. Hold a mini-briefing session within the security department in order to share intel, assess the threat, and assemble a plan in case things turn ugly. Once the protestors start throwing firebombs, disrupting traffic, or destroying assets the station should be raised to blue alert. At this point, you are ready to begin moving in. Use the Warden's megaphone to tell the protestors that this is now an "illegal gathering" and that they need to disperse. After a minute, anyone who continues to protest is now considered a rioter.
The Birth and Death of a Riot
Crowd Control
Too often, security will focus on what's in front of them rather than the big picture. Begin by cordoning off areas around the protestors, make sure this cordon covers the entrance to departments as well as expensive assets. Holobarriers are great for making this cordon as well as the warden's security barriers. Always leave the main hallway leading to the center of the station open as a means of escape for rioters. The idea is that when the fight or flight response kicks in they always have an option to choose the latter and avoid a fight.
Going on the Offensive
Before doing anything, listen to public comms and identify the ringleaders of the riot. Once you have done this make sure their arrest statuses are set and you announce their names to your fellow officers. Formulate a plan for going in and make sure all officers are aware of their roles. Utilize tear gas grenades and non-lethals to quickly subdue and capture the targets you identified and bring them to processing. Make sure to remove their radios so they cannot continue to direct riots. Once this is done make sure to set the arrest status of every other rioter. At this point you only need to arrest people directly committing Space Law crimes as you can deal with the less rowdy rioters later.
Tips for not getting robusted
- Keep all equipment holstered until you absolutely need it around protestors.
- If a protestor has a weapon, disabler them from a distance or utilize your flash to disarm them.
- You can walk through Security Holobarriers.
- Stay on the edge of the mob and only attempt to penetrate it with groups of officers.
- Try and breakup a mob before going in for an arrest (tear gas is great for this).
- Keep your perimeter secured and do not let people through.
- When performing an arrest, stun and drag into a security controlled area and then cuff them.
- Pay attention to slippery floors (ex: lube, mopped floors, soap, banana peels, etc)
- Utilize riot shields to block projectiles and attacks
- If the mob charges, use multiple flashbangs and retreat if you have to
Laying Down the Law
Once you have captured a few rioters you need to begin brigging them. The ringleaders should be charged with inciting a riot and their compatriots with rioting. In addition to these crimes make sure to include any crimes they committed during rioting. If someone smashes a window add a damage to station asset charge and so on. Confiscate ear muffs, sunglasses, welding helmets, bowman headsets, and any contraband from them. When you have a large number of rioters it helps to set the cell times to the minimum for the charges. If you run out of space utilize the two solitary cells and/or keep them restrained in processing under watch. If you need to do this make sure to keep a running timer. If this isn't a viable solution then release the prisoners with the lightest charges.
| Code | Crime | Description | Notes |
| 205 | Rioting | To partake in an unauthorized and disruptive assembly of crewmen. | It is required to order the crowd to disperse; failure to disperse is the crime, not the assembly itself. Crimes committed during the riot are considered separate offenses. For the ringleader of a riot, see Inciting a Riot. |
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| Code | Crime | Description | Notes |
| 305 | Inciting a Riot | To attempt to stir the crew into a riot. | The offender should also have restrictions placed on their radio traffic and be given a tracking implant. For second offenses or violent uprisings, see Mutiny. |
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When it has Gotten Out of Control
Once the rioters have begun to stop listening to command and have resorted to complete violence they are no longer an unruly mob but a direct threat to the station. Declare a code red alert and consider calling an amber ERT if security is not well equipped to handle this. While non-lethal weapons are preferable, officers are permitted to use lethals on armed and dangerous rioters. Considering deputizing personnel like the detective to assist you. Diplomacy has been thrown out the window and it's time to wage a war.
War of Attrition
Security in these situations isn't in a great position to stand toe-to-toe with a large-scale mutiny. Before you do anything else make sure there is a station-wide announcement that makes it clear that any rioters who refuse to surrender to security will be captured dead or alive and possibly charged with mutiny.
Play Dirty.
- Cut off exits by welding airlocks and constructing metal walls
- Have the AI disable and shock APCs in the occupied areas (a must have for Cargonia)
- Consider flooding the area with N20
- Use flashbangs religiously
- Stay at a distance and peak out to take cheap shops at rioters with ballistics to cause Internal Bleeding
- If they barricade themselves heavily in a room, consider siphoning it or using HE scichem grenades
- Use Mechs to tank damage and dish out some serious pain
- Focus on keeping your officers alive and healthy
- Keep the crew away from the battle to avoid friendly fire and disruption
After the Battle
Work with the magistrate to determine what crimes to apply to the captured rioters. Apply murder and mutiny charges as necessary. otherwise inciting a riot. Make sure to only apply mutiny if they fought back and did not surrender prior to security beginning their raids.
Prison Riots
Possibly as a surprise people do not enjoy being locked up. This goes double for prisoners who are locked up with nothing to do. Most prison riots will take place in permanent housing (Perma) and as such it is suggested to use the N2O riot suppression system unless they are species that do not breath. Then use of flashes, flash bangs, and tazers is suggested. After the prisoners are suppressed place them in solitary and it is suggested to keep an officer watching the prisoners until calm.