Editing Riot Act (section)

===Use of force===
In the 1768 massacre of St George's Fields, large numbers of subjects gathered outside [[King's Bench Prison]] in Southwark, south London, to protest against the incarceration of [[John Wilkes]].  Officials feared that the crowd would forcibly release Wilkes, and troops arrived to guard the prison.  After some time, as well as provocation by the rioters, the troops opened fire on the crowd.  There were several fatalities, including non-participants of the riot who were struck by stray bullets.<ref>{{cite journal |first=W. |last=Nippel |title=Reading the Riot Act: The Discourse of Law-Enforcement in 18th Century England |journal=History and Anthropology |volume=1 |date=June 1985 |pages=407–408}}</ref>  Some scholars believe that this massacre set the legal precedent for the justified use of force in future riots.<ref name="autogenerated1985"/>

The provision pertaining to the use of force can be found in section 3 of the Riot Act:

{{blockquote|...&nbsp;and that if the persons so unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembled, or any of them, shall happen to be killed, maimed or hurt, in the dispersing, seizing or apprehending, or endeavouring to disperse, seize or apprehend them, that then every such justice of the peace, sheriff, under-sheriff, mayor, bailiff, head-officer, high or petty constable, or other peace-officer, and all and singular persons, being aiding and assisting to them, or any of them, shall be free, discharged and indemnified, as well against the King's majesty, his heirs and successors, as against all and every other person or persons so unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembled, that shall happen to be so killed, maimed or hurt, as aforesaid.}}

There was also confusion regarding the use of troops as it pertained to the one-hour mark.  Rioters often believed that the military could not use force until one hour had passed since the reading of the proclamation.  This is evident in the actions of the rioters at the massacre of St George's Fields, particularly their provocative behaviour towards the soldiers.<ref>{{cite journal |first=W. |last=Nippel |title=Reading the Riot Act: The Discourse of Law-Enforcement in 18th Century England |journal=History and Anthropology |volume=1 |date=June 1985 |page=407}}</ref>