Riot shield

Riot shields are lightweight protection devices deployed by police and some military organizations. Riot shields are almost exclusively long enough to cover an average-sized man from the top of the head to the knees. Some riot shields are designed to be bullet resistant against low-velocity handgun and shotgun ammunition; however, most are not. They are generally intended to be used in riot control, to protect the user from shrapnel, thrown projectiles, and splash from various weapons such as a Molotov cocktail. They can also be used as short-ranged melee weapons to push back rioters.

Riot shields are used in almost every country with a standardized police force and are produced by many companies. Most riot shields are constructed from transparent, high-impact polycarbonate to enable the bearer to see incoming thrown objects, so the shield can quickly be positioned to deflect them away from the user's body.

Varieties of riot shields

Riot shields can come in various shapes, including: