British retailers are facing tens of millions of pounds in costs and losses following the rioting, looting and arson across and beyond London.
The British Retail Consortium, which represents about 90% of retailers, has warned that the impact on smaller businesses could be terminal.
It has called for urgent action to help shopkeepers protect property, and it wants assurances the police would use robust tactics to deal with the trouble and ensure offenders are suitably punished.
