Update on Riot damage claims
Since the recent riots, the ABI, on behalf of the Insurance Industry, have been in discussion with the Government and the Police Authorities to establish a process for dealing with claims under the Riot (Damages) Act. While previous guidance has been given, this bulletin reflects the most recent developments and clarifies the action you should be taking.
Announcements already made;
- The government has extended the period to lodge claims under the Riot (Damages) Act from 14 days to 42 Days.
- Claims need to be directed to the Police Authority for the area in which the incident occurred.
- If losses were sustained on more than one occasion then a separate form requires to be lodged for each occurrence.
- Individual customers are responsible for documenting their claim(s).
Further discussion took place last week and this has resulted in updated guidance being issued. The main points are;
- The Police Authorities have asked that claims from Insurers and their customers, for the same incident, be submitted together.
- Electronic submission may not be accepted, contrary to previous guidance.
- Forms must be in hard (paper) copy and signed by an appropriate individual in your organisation.
- A revised claim form has been issued and a link to this can be found at the bottom of this page.
Our initial guidance on this matter can be found on our website (article 11 August).
What you should do now;
- Ensure that you have notified Zurich Municipal of any potential riot damage claim under your policy. We have extended our normal 7 day reporting condition to 30 days, but this period has nearly expired.
- In order to comply with the new process for submitting claim forms, Zurich Municipal and our adjusters can confirm that we will be willing to submit your claim form along with our own.
- If an adjuster has been appointed to your claim, you should contact them to confirm whether you’d like them to submit your claim along with the Zurich Municipal claim. They will advise you of any deadlines they have.
- If Zurich Municipal is dealing with your claim, we will submit your claim form with our own. The diagram below shows you the timetable you will need to work to, in order to ensure that all claims are logged ahead of the statutory deadline.
The claim form(s) will need to be marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and sent to:
Mr Stewart Powell, Claims Controller Technical, Zurich Insurance plc,
Zurich House (1st Floor), 2 Gladiator Way, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 6GB
If you are unsure at this time, whether you will have a claim, we recommend that one be submitted as a precaution. Any claim not received by the Police Authority, within the 42 day timeframe , will NOT be considered by them.
- If you are having difficulty quantifying the claim, you should provide what information is available and advise that this represents an initial assessment and that further details will follow when they are available.
- Although Zurich Municipal cannot advise you what to claim for, we suggest that any loss not insured by a policy of insurance, and is a direct consequence of the riot, be claimed for.
- Contradictory legal advice exists regarding claims for Business Interruption and Consequential losses. We suggest that any such losses are claimed for and documented on the form. It is then up to the Police Authority to decide how such claims will be dealt with.
- If you have sustained losses but are not making a claim on your insurance policy, the form will need to be sent to the appropriate police authority.
This information reflects the current position; no guarantee can be given that this will not change in the future. If material changes are made we will of course issue further updates.
If you have any questions regarding your potential claim under the Riot (Damages) Act, please telephone your Zurich Municipal contact as soon as possible.
Timetable for Zurich Municipal submitting Riot (Damages) Act claims
Revised Damages Claim form »
Police points of contact »
