The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is set to chair an emergency meeting with its members this week as the UK retail industry grapples with the aftermath of far-right riots that have swept across the country.

The meeting, provisionally scheduled for Wednesday, comes in response to a wave of looting, vandalism, and violence that has left many retail workers fearing for their safety.

The news was first reported by Retail Week, with Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, telling the outlet: "Many retail workers have been heading to work fearing their stores and their safety could be compromised by the looting and vandalism that has taken grip in various parts of the country. Some are already seeing the impact, as they spend their day cleaning up the damage caused by these selfish and criminal acts."

The riots, which began following the murder of three children in Southport on 29 July, have been fuelled by online misinformation regarding the ethnicity and immigration status of the attacker. Far-right groups have since taken to the streets in cities including Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, Hull, Belfast, Liverpool, Rotherham, and Sunderland.

Several retailers have already fallen victim to the unrest. In Hull, rioters broke into Lush, Specsavers, and Shoe Zone stores. A Sainsbury's on Manchester's Mosley Street was forced to close after its shelves were ransacked, while an Iceland store in Middlesbrough was looted.

The BRC is taking steps to support its members, providing a forum for retailers to discuss safety measures, business protection, and customer communication. The organisation is also engaging with law enforcement to provide information and advice to retailers.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has condemned the riots as "far-right thuggery" and promised swift legal action against those involved. He is chairing an emergency Cobra meeting to address the situation, although calls to recall parliament have not yet been heeded.

As the retail industry braces for potential further unrest, the BRC has emphasised the need for a robust response. Dickinson stated: "The full force of the law should be brought to bear on those individuals who are committing criminal damage and theft against retailers and the communities they are part of."

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has also announced that it is in discussions with the Home Office regarding the potential use of the Riot Compensation Act to assist affected members. Meanwhile, Grocery Aid has set up a support helpline offering emotional, practical, and financial assistance to affected retail staff.

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