Summary

The North American riot control equipment market was valued at USD 1.61 billion in 2020, and it is projected to register a CAGR of 4.32% during the forecast period (2021-2030).

Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected the economy of the region, resulting in a GDP decline of more than 3%, the pandemic did not diminish the sales of riot control equipment in the region in 2020. On the contrary, the region witnessed several protests condemning the imposition of coronavirus restrictions and the lockdowns, which resulted in the law enforcement agencies using riot-control equipment to tackle the crowds.

Furthermore, the social uprising in the US against the use of excessive force by the authorities in the form of the Black Lives Matter Movement resulted in several demonstrations and gatherings that turned violent, leading to massive property damages on some occasions. This has led to authorities restocking on their riot control equipment to effectively control the situation and prevent any loss of life and property in the future, thereby driving the market growth.

The development of advanced less-lethal weapons, like dropping low-velocity ammunition, pepper sprays, and other less-lethal weapons, may help the growth of the market during the forecast period.

However, the policy changes by the governments and regulatory bodies resulting in a ban on the use of several types of less-lethal offensive equipment are anticipated to hamper the growth of the riot control equipment market in the region during the forecast period.

Key Market Trends

Law Enforcement Agencies are the Biggest Consumers of Riot Control Equipment

Currently, the demand from the law enforcement segment is experiencing the highest growth in the market and is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Several protests in the region necessitate the procurement and deployment of riot control equipment by law enforcement agencies. With the escalating tensions in the US and protests all over the country for a large part of the year 2020, the demand for riot control equipment has increased. Also, occasional riots and civil unrest, such as demonstrations and protests in cities in Canada, have led to the police forces resorting to the use of less-lethal weapons, which collectively shall have a positive impact on the growth of the market. For instance, in April 2021, the protests in Montreal, Canada opposing the pandemic restrictions imposed on the region to control the coronavirus turned violent, which resulted in the police using tear gas and charging the crowd. The growth in such instances is expected to drive the procurement of riot-control equipment by the Law-enforcement agencies during the forecast period. A report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also revealed that the use of less-lethal extended-range impact weapons by the police is on the rise across Canada. According to the report, an average of five extended-range weapons were shot at suspects between 2010 and 2017. However, by 2019, there were 30 instances where officers deployed the weapons, which signifies the growing usage and the demand from the segment.

The United States is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

The US is one of the most prolific users of riot control equipment due to frequent and large-scale riots in the country. The year 2020 witnessed one of the largest social movements in the country's history in the form of the racial unrest related to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Consequently, federal agencies have bolstered their stocks of crowd-control gear, including tear gas and sponge-tipped bullets, among others. It was estimated that the sales of riot control equipment have more than doubled between May and August 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Following this, the capitol riots in January 2021 also led to a large-scale deployment of law enforcement and military personnel, who also used riot control equipment to control the crowd. Several police officers faced equipment shortages while handling the crowd. Such factors are expected to result in higher procurement of the equipment in the coming future. The country is also conducting several R&D projects to develop superior less-lethal weapons and other riot control equipment. For instance, the Pentagon's Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO), formerly the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate, along with a host of private arms companies, spent decades testing everything from long-range wireless taser bullets to sonic guns that can disable a car engine from 150 feet away. The R&D of several less-lethal weapon technologies, such as the laser-induced plasma effect blaster, carbon nanotube thermophones, pre-emplaced electric vehicle stopper, and variable kinetic system, are underway. As of 2020, JIFCO acquired a long-range projectile delivering TASER-like stun effects. Such developments are expected to drive the growth of the market in the country during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The prominent players in the North American riot control equipment market are Combined Systems Inc., TASER Self-Defense (Axon Enterprise Inc.), Safariland LLC, AARDVARK, and Lamperd Less Lethal Inc. Companies are trying to enhance their distribution network with the help of strategic collaborations and partnerships. For instance, in February 2021, Lamperd Less Lethal Inc. entered a distribution agreement with Valentis, a security logistics and risk management solution provider. Following the signing of the agreement, Valentis added the Lamperd Less Lethal products to its own logistics and support network service, which is expected to help the collective growth of both companies. Players are also investing in the R&D of new technologies to incorporate them into their future product portfolio. In December 2020, Safariland, along with Flying Cross, announced the joint launch of an innovative virtual sizing technology called XpertFit that provides a contactless self-measuring method of taking body measurements with a mobile phone which the officers can use when ordering body armor and safety uniforms. The focus on the R&D of such technologies is expected to drive the growth of the players during the forecast period.

Additional Benefits:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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