SRCC Insurance Explained: Strikes, Riots and Civil Commotion
When protests turn into damage, the first question many business owners ask is whether their insurance will pay. The answer usually depends on three words you may never have noticed in your policy: strikes, riots and civil commotion, often shortened to SRCC. This explainer shows what SRCC means, where it appears in property, business income and cargo insurance, and how to check your own cover before you need it.
Key takeaways
- SRCC stands for strikes, riots and civil commotion, a group of perils that insurers treat in specific ways.
- In US commercial property insurance, the standard causes-of-loss forms list riot or civil commotion and vandalism as covered perils, subject to policy terms.
- Business income cover generally needs direct physical loss or damage; lost sales from a quiet street usually are not enough.
- Marine cargo insurance excludes strikes and riots unless strikes clauses (SRCC cover) are added.
- In the UK, the Riot Compensation Act 2016 can help with property damage in some cases, with a short claim deadline.
Unrest has been in the news across Europe and the US in autumn 2026. Cost-of-living protests took place in several European countries on 17 October 2026, with clashes in Milan and up to 195 arrests reported in Belgium, while France saw the largest turnout. In the US, hotel workers in Chicago, state employees in California and county workers in Orange County went on strike in October. Most of these events were peaceful for the businesses around them, but they are a good reason to understand how insurance treats strikes, riots and civil commotion.
This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Policy wordings differ between insurers and countries, and the exact terms of your policy decide what is covered. Always read your policy and talk to your broker or insurer about your situation.
What SRCC means
Insurers group strikes, riots and civil commotion together because they share a feature: they involve people acting collectively, and they can cause damage across many properties at the same time. That makes them harder to price than, say, a single fire.
- Strikes: damage caused by striking workers, or by people locked out, during a labor dispute. Note that this is about physical damage, not the income lost because staff are on strike.
- Riots: violent disturbances by a group of people. The legal definition varies by country and policy.
- Civil commotion: a disturbance that is more serious or longer lasting than a riot but short of a rebellion or war. Again, definitions vary.
Two related terms often appear alongside SRCC. Vandalism or malicious damage covers deliberate damage by individuals, which may or may not be connected to a protest. War, terrorism and insurrection are normally excluded or covered separately, and the line between civil commotion and these excluded events can matter in a large claim.
Common mistake
Assuming "strike cover" means your insurer will pay for the business you lose when your own staff, your suppliers or public transport workers go on strike. SRCC cover is about physical loss or damage caused by people taking part in strikes or riots. Lost income from a walkout with no damage is normally not covered by a property policy.
SRCC in US commercial property insurance
Most US commercial property policies use standard causes-of-loss forms: basic, broad and special. All three list "riot or civil commotion" and vandalism as covered perils, subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy. In plain terms, if rioters break your windows or damage your stock, a typical commercial property policy is designed to respond, after your deductible and within your limits.
| Cover | What it usually responds to | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Building and contents | Physical damage from riot, civil commotion or vandalism | Limits, deductibles, vacancy conditions, exclusions |
| Business income | Lost income while you repair after covered physical damage | Waiting period, period of restoration, how income is calculated |
| Extra expense | Extra costs to keep operating after covered damage | Which costs qualify and whether a limit applies |
| Civil authority | Income lost when authorities prohibit access because of damage nearby | Waiting period, maximum duration, distance rules |
Business income: the physical damage rule
Business income coverage generally requires direct physical loss or damage to covered property. If your shop is damaged during a riot and has to close for repairs, business income cover can help replace lost profit and pay continuing expenses during the restoration period. If your shop is untouched but customers stay away because of protests nearby, there is usually no claim, because nothing was physically damaged.
Civil authority cover
Civil authority coverage may pay when a government authority prohibits access to your premises because of damage to property nearby. It usually starts only after a waiting period and lasts for a limited time. A curfew or police cordon that is not linked to physical damage nearby may not trigger it. Check the wording carefully, because the conditions are specific.
Pro tip
Ask your broker three direct questions and get the answers in writing: Does my policy cover riot, civil commotion and vandalism? What waiting period applies to business income and civil authority cover? How long would civil authority cover last? Five minutes now saves weeks of uncertainty after an incident.
SRCC in marine cargo insurance
If you import or export goods, SRCC works differently. In marine cargo insurance, strikes and riots are excluded unless strikes clauses, often called SRCC cover, are added to the policy. Without them, goods damaged or stolen by rioters or strikers in transit may not be covered.
- Check your cargo policy. Look for strikes clauses or an SRCC extension. If you cannot find them, ask your broker.
- Understand what is covered. Strikes clauses typically cover physical loss or damage to the goods caused by strikers or rioters. They usually do not cover delay or extra costs simply because a port or carrier is on strike.
- Check your sales terms. Who insures the goods depends on the agreed delivery terms with your buyer or supplier. Make sure someone has SRCC cover for each leg of the journey.
- Plan for delay separately. A port strike that holds your container for weeks may cause losses that no policy covers, such as missed sales or spoiled perishable goods. Contracts and contingency plans matter more here than insurance.
SRCC in the UK: insurance and the Riot Compensation Act
In the UK, civil commotion is usually covered by commercial property policies, subject to their terms. There is also a separate route for riot damage: the Riot Compensation Act 2016. Under it, you may be able to claim for riot damage to property from the local policing body.
- Property only: the scheme covers damage to property, not things like lost income.
- Capped: claims are capped at £1 million per claim.
- Short deadline: you must notify within a short period, about six weeks.
- Usually a backup: it is mainly used where insurance does not pay, for example for uninsured businesses or losses outside a policy. Check the official guidance for the current rules.
Elsewhere in Europe, the treatment of riot damage depends on national law and policy wording, and sources differ on the details. For France specifically, see our separate guide to riot insurance there. In every country, the safest approach is the same: read your policy, ask your broker and act fast after any damage.
Step by step: how to check and claim
- Find your policy schedule and wording. The schedule shows what you bought and the limits. The wording explains covered perils, exclusions and conditions.
- Search for the key terms. Look for "riot," "civil commotion," "strike," "vandalism," "malicious damage," "civil authority" and "business income" or "business interruption."
- Note waiting periods and limits. Write down deductibles, waiting periods and any limits on business income or civil authority cover.
- Ask your broker about gaps. If you trade internationally, ask specifically about cargo strikes clauses. If your premises are in a busy area, ask about vacancy conditions and security requirements.
- After damage, act quickly. Make sure people are safe, then report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible and to the police where appropriate. In the UK, note the Riot Compensation Act deadline.
- Document everything. Take photos and video of damage, keep receipts for emergency repairs and record lost sales and extra costs.
- Prevent further loss. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to protect property after an incident, such as boarding up broken windows.
Hypothetical example
Imagine "Harbor Street Books," a small bookshop near a city square where a demonstration turns violent. Two windows are smashed and some stock is damaged by water from a broken display. The owner photographs everything, boards up the windows, calls the insurer the same day and closes for four days for repairs. Her commercial property policy responds to the riot damage, and her business income cover pays for the closure after the waiting period. A neighboring cafe with no damage but fewer customers that week has no claim. Names and details are made up.
Your SRCC insurance checklist
- Confirm your property policy covers riot, civil commotion and vandalism
- Check business income and civil authority waiting periods and limits
- Ask about cargo strikes clauses if you import or export goods
- Know your deductibles and any security or vacancy conditions
- Keep an up-to-date inventory with photos of stock and equipment
- Save your insurer's claims contact details somewhere easy to find
- In the UK, note the Riot Compensation Act notification deadline
- Review your cover with your broker at every renewal
Frequently asked questions
Does SRCC insurance cover income lost when my staff go on strike?
Generally no. SRCC cover relates to physical loss or damage caused by strikers, rioters or people in a civil commotion. Income lost because your workforce or a supplier stops working, without physical damage, is normally not covered by a property policy.
Is a curfew enough to trigger civil authority cover?
Not always. Civil authority cover usually requires that authorities prohibit access because of damage to property nearby, and it typically starts after a waiting period and lasts a limited time. A curfew not linked to nearby damage may not qualify. Check your wording and ask your broker.
Do I need SRCC cover for goods in transit?
If you rely on marine cargo insurance, yes, you should check. Strikes and riots are excluded from marine cargo cover unless strikes clauses are added. Confirm who insures the goods under your delivery terms and whether SRCC cover is included.
Can I claim under the UK Riot Compensation Act if I am insured?
The scheme is mainly used where insurance does not pay. If you are insured, claim through your insurer first and ask how the scheme interacts with your policy. If you are uninsured or your policy does not respond, the scheme may help with property damage, subject to the cap and the short deadline.
Related reading
The bottom line
SRCC cover is one of those parts of an insurance policy that nobody reads until a demonstration passes their door. In US commercial property policies, riot, civil commotion and vandalism are usually covered perils, but business income needs physical damage, civil authority cover has waiting periods and limits, and cargo needs strikes clauses. In the UK, the Riot Compensation Act offers a backup route for property damage with a tight deadline.
Take ten minutes this week to find your policy, search for the key terms and send your broker a short list of questions. It is far easier to fix a gap now than after the damage is done.
