Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market By Product (Personal Protective Equipment, Offensive Equipment), By End User (Law Enforcement, Special Forces), By Country, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F

Market Overview:

Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market was valued at USD 775.23 Million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1016.53 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 4.62% during the forecast period. The Riot Control Equipment market is experiencing steady growth driven by rising demand for non-lethal crowd management solutions, advanced protective gear, and enhanced tactical equipment that ensures operational efficiency and personnel safety. Innovations in materials and technology are producing lightweight, durable shields, batons, and tear gas delivery systems that improve response times and reduce risk to law enforcement personnel. Growing adoption of integrated systems combining surveillance, communication, and riot control tools is creating new opportunities for efficiency and precision in managing civil disturbances. For instance, during the “Block Everything” protests in France, around 200,000 demonstrators took to the streets, with union estimates placing participation above 250,000, leading to 473 arrests and the deployment of nearly 80,000 police officers nationwide, while protesters carried out 812 coordinated actions, including 550 gatherings and 262 blockades that disrupted transport, highways, and urban spaces.

Market Drivers

Rising Demand for Non-Lethal Crowd Management

The increasing frequency of public gatherings, protests, and civil unrest has intensified the need for effective non-lethal crowd management solutions. Law enforcement agencies are prioritizing equipment that can control crowds without causing permanent harm, creating higher demand for tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and electroshock devices. Modern riot control strategies require equipment that is both effective and safe, ensuring minimal injuries while maintaining order. This shift is influencing procurement decisions and pushing manufacturers to innovate products that meet stringent safety standards. The focus is on delivering reliable performance under challenging conditions, including extreme weather or confined urban spaces, where conventional methods may fail. Agencies are also seeking solutions that can be deployed quickly, reducing response times during sudden escalations.

Technological Advancements in Protective Gear

Advancements in materials science, sensor integration, and wearable technology are transforming riot control protective gear. Modern equipment now combines lightweight composites, impact-resistant fabrics, and ergonomic designs to enhance mobility and reduce fatigue during prolonged operations. Helmets, body armor, and shields are increasingly designed with shock absorption, thermal regulation, and integrated communication systems, improving situational awareness and team coordination in high-risk environments. The use of IoT-enabled devices allows real-time monitoring of stress levels, positioning, and threat proximity, enhancing decision-making during volatile situations. These innovations improve the safety of personnel while maintaining operational efficiency, which is a critical requirement for modern law enforcement and security agencies. For instance, Greece’s Ministry of Citizen Protection has launched a $715 million modernization program, a major increase from its previous $34.1 million investment, aimed at boosting public safety and border monitoring. The plan includes $7.7 million for 2,000 body cameras, $4.4 million for 100 hybrid SUVs, and about $93.5 million for additional vehicles dedicated to border and immigration enforcement. It also involves deploying drones, thermal imaging, counterfeit detection systems, encrypted communications, and a new national ID system.

Increased Government and Agency Investments

Governments and law enforcement agencies are allocating higher budgets to modernize riot control capabilities. Investments focus on procuring advanced equipment, training programs, and integrated tactical systems to ensure rapid response to public disturbances and critical incidents. Agencies recognize that having access to reliable, efficient, and technologically advanced tools enhances operational readiness, improves safety for both officers and civilians, and reduces potential liabilities. Funding initiatives often support the adoption of non-lethal weapons, modular protective gear, and automated crowd monitoring solutions, ensuring comprehensive preparedness for diverse scenarios. These investments encourage manufacturers to expand production, develop specialized products, and innovate features that meet evolving security requirements. For instance, Government expenditure on public order and safety across the EU reached 1.7% of GDP in 2023. Of that total, 0.9% of GDP was allocated to police services—the largest share. Other categories included about 0.3% of GDP for law courts, and roughly 0.2% each for fire protection services and prisons. Compensation of employees accounted for around 69% of public order and safety spending, intermediate consumption about 21%, and capital investments near 8%.

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Key Market Challenges

Balancing Effectiveness and Safety

Riot control equipment must maintain a delicate balance between operational effectiveness and minimizing harm. Non-lethal devices such as batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets need to control crowds while avoiding severe injuries, permanent disabilities, or fatalities. Designing equipment that achieves this balance is complex, as environmental conditions, crowd behavior, and deployment scenarios vary widely. Manufacturers face pressure to meet rigorous safety standards and comply with international human rights regulations, while law enforcement agencies require tools that function reliably under extreme stress. Inadequate safety can result in public backlash, legal consequences, and diminished trust in security forces. Simultaneously, overemphasis on safety may reduce the deterrent effect, limiting crowd control efficiency.

Compliance with Regulatory Standards

Manufacturers of riot control equipment operate within stringent regulatory frameworks that govern product design, deployment, and usage. Equipment must meet international safety, human rights, and non-lethal weapon standards, which vary across agencies and jurisdictions. Compliance requires rigorous testing, documentation, and certification processes, increasing production costs and development timelines. Regulatory constraints also limit certain technologies, such as chemical irritants or energy-based devices, reducing flexibility in product design. Manufacturers must adapt rapidly to changes in legislation and ethical guidelines, while ensuring that innovations remain practical for operational deployment. Non-compliance can lead to legal penalties, recalls, and reputational damage, affecting both suppliers and end-users.

Key Market Trends

Smart and IoT-Enabled Equipment

Integration of smart technologies and IoT connectivity is redefining riot control operations. Equipment such as helmets, vests, and shields now feature embedded sensors, GPS tracking, and real-time data transmission to central command centers. This connectivity allows continuous monitoring of personnel location, physiological status, and surrounding threats, enabling rapid decision-making and coordinated responses. Remote monitoring tools and automated alert systems improve situational awareness, reducing risks to both officers and civilians. The trend toward smart devices also supports predictive analytics, crowd behavior modeling, and scenario simulations, enhancing strategic planning for complex deployments.

Modular and Multi-Functional Equipment

Modularity and multi-functionality are shaping the evolution of riot control tools. Shields, batons, and protective gear are being designed with interchangeable components, allowing adaptation to different threat levels and mission requirements. Multi-functional devices that combine protection, communication, and non-lethal deterrence capabilities reduce the need for multiple pieces of equipment, simplifying logistics and deployment. Modular systems allow rapid customization, enabling law enforcement to scale responses from crowd management to high-risk interventions. This trend supports operational flexibility, improves cost efficiency, and ensures that personnel are equipped for diverse scenarios without excessive inventory. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in research to produce compact, lightweight, and durable modular solutions that enhance mobility while maintaining effectiveness, driving innovation in equipment design.

Adoption of Remote-Controlled and Automated Solutions

Remote-controlled devices, drones, and automated crowd management systems are gaining traction as law enforcement seeks safer ways to monitor and control disturbances. Automated systems enable officers to engage from a distance, reducing direct exposure to potential threats and improving response efficiency. These solutions can deploy non-lethal measures such as tear gas, water jets, or crowd dispersal mechanisms with precision, minimizing human risk and collateral damage. Integration with surveillance technologies allows continuous observation and assessment, providing actionable intelligence in real time. The trend toward automation and robotics also supports resource optimization, as fewer personnel are required for high-risk operations. Investments in research and development are increasing the capabilities, reliability, and adaptability of these solutions, making remote and automated riot control a critical growth trend in modern security strategies.

Segmental Insights

End User Insights

In 2024, law enforcement emerged as the dominant end user in the Riot Control Equipment market, driven by the increasing need to manage public gatherings, protests, and civil disturbances effectively. Agencies are investing heavily in non-lethal equipment such as shields, batons, tear gas, and water-based crowd control systems to maintain order while minimizing injuries and legal liabilities. The emphasis is on rapid deployment, operational efficiency, and officer safety, prompting the adoption of lightweight, ergonomic protective gear and advanced tactical tools. Law enforcement units prioritize equipment that is reliable in diverse environments, from urban streets to confined public spaces, and that can be integrated with communication and surveillance systems for coordinated responses.

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Country Insights

In 2024, Germany emerged as the dominant region in the Riot Control Equipment market in 2024 as heightened political, social, and security pressures drove large-scale investments in law enforcement preparedness. The collapse of the coalition government, growing far-right influence, and a sharp rise in politically motivated crimes, including antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents, created significant demand for advanced riot control solutions. Authorities faced frequent demonstrations, from climate and pro-Palestine protests to anti-migrant movements, prompting the need for non-lethal crowd management tools such as modular shields, tactical protective gear, and advanced surveillance systems capable of ensuring rapid response and maintaining order. For instance, in 2024, Germany faced political turmoil with the coalition collapse, rising far-right influence, and a surge in racist, antisemitic, and anti-migrant violence. Politically motivated crimes hit 60,028 in 2023, including sharp increases in right-wing, anti-Muslim, and antisemitic cases. Authorities cracked down on protests and tightened asylum laws, with applications down 21.7% to 174,369, while 1.15 million Ukrainians remained under protection. Social issues included 256,276 domestic violence cases, 21.2% poverty risk, and criticism over rights restrictions, though progress came with the Self-Determination Law on gender recognition and an Action Plan Against Homelessness.

France represented the second-largest market in 2024, characterized by a robust demand for advanced riot control tools within law enforcement and specialized units. Investments in training programs and technology-enhanced protective equipment have driven adoption of modular and multi-functional devices. Government focus on enhancing non-lethal response capabilities and operational readiness has encouraged procurement of durable shields, batons, and integrated crowd monitoring systems. The structured approach to civil security and consistent funding has established France as a significant player, supporting steady market growth.

Recent Developments

• ​On 2025, Revelyst, Blackhawk, and SNO Trailers unveiled SPECTR, a next-generation emergency-response trailer with off-road capabilities, Wi-Fi, Starlink connectivity, and customizable options like drone launch pads and power stations, designed to enhance rapid deployment for search-and-rescue, riot control, and backcountry operations.
• ExecDefense USA (EDI-USA) has showcased exceptional production, delivering 5,000 ballistic helmets in two weeks, 10,000 gas masks in ten days, and 800 ballistic shields in under a month. Operating from Pennsylvania, the company supplies law enforcement, military, and security agencies in over 55 countries, expanding its global distribution.
• In 2025, protests broke out in Rome against Italy’s proposed security bill, which offers €10,000 legal aid for police accused of excessive force, toughens penalties for protesters, accelerates evictions, and removes some protections for women in prison. Critics, including the OSCE, warned the measures risk undermining rule of law and civil liberties.
• In 2025, Spain deployed over 1,500 security personnel for the final stages of the Vuelta a España after pro-Palestine protests repeatedly disrupted the race, blocking roads, shortening one stage, and neutralizing others. Authorities aimed to secure the event while upholding protest rights.

Key Market Players

• CBW Agencia
• Desert Wolf
• Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• PACEM Defense
• Genasys Inc.
• Safariland LLC
• NonLethal Technologies Inc
• Blackhawk
• J-FORCES Group
• Indian Armour Systems

Report Scope:

In this report, Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

•           Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market, By Product:

o    Personal Protective Equipment

o    Offensive Equipment

•           Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market, By End User:

o    Law Enforcement

o    Special Forces

•           Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market, By Country:

o    Germany

o    Russia

o    France

o    Spain

o    Italy

o    United Kingdom

o    Poland

o    Rest of Europe & CIS

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market.

Available Customizations:

Europe & CIS Riot Control Equipment Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to the company’s specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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