Public disturbances (5)
I believe the answer is:
riots
'public disturbances' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for riots that I've seen before include "Wild disturbances by crowds" , "Protests" , "Public disturbances" , "Acts of violence by unruly mobs" , "Violent disturbances" .)