Footfall is down in high streets across Britain after shops torched in riots: Retail chiefs hold emergency meeting as stores shutter and change opening hours amid fears of more violence Follow MailOnline's UK riots liveblog for all the latest updates throughout today By Mark Duell Published: 06:20 EDT, 7 August 2024 | Updated: 06:45 EDT, 7 August 2024 e-mail 4 View comments Shoppers are avoiding high streets across Britain after shops were smashed up and looted in the riots, retail bosses warned today as they held an emergency meeting. Sainsbury's , Greggs , Iceland, Lush, Specsavers and Shoe Zone stores have all been targeted amid a wave of attacks in recent days following the Southport stabbings. The British Retail Consortium confirmed footfall in city centres had fallen 'quite significantly' since the riots began which would 'have an impact on businesses'.
The industry body said some shops will have 'shorter opening hours or temporary closures' but the 'big priority' was ensuring staff and customers are kept safe. The mass disorder, which began on Tuesday last week, has also seen hotels housing asylum seekers attacked and more than 400 people have now been arrested. The destroyed interior of a Lush shop in Hull after it was looted amid the riots on Saturday A riot police officer stands guard outside a destroyed Shoe Zone shop in Hull on Saturday The violence in cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Hull and Belfast was sparked by false claims about the identity of.