The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has submitted research into the impact of the riots on retailers to the police. This will contribute to the police's impact assessments, which will be used in the trials of alleged offenders.

They contacted BRC members responsible for 27% of UK retail sales. These retailers lost over 7,500 hours of trading, and more than 11,000 of their staff members were affected by the riots. Given that the sample was of approximately a quarter of the sector the damage to the sector as a whole will be considerably greater.

The research also included collecting anecdotal evidence on the impact on retail staff. Comments included:

"Some staff were extremely frightened by events; a few have indicated that they will be considering their careers in retail."

"There was fear of coming to work and not being able to get to work. Two colleagues were mugged and assaulted on their way home. Colleagues were in store when looters hit."

The BRC says this is a reminder that these are not victimless crimes. Thousand of retail staff were subjected to verbal and physical assault. Tom Ironside, the BRC Director of Business said: "The thousands of people who work in shops have been the forgotten victims of the riots. The scenes of violence and looting which broke out two weeks ago were frightening even for the majority of us who were watching them on television or reading about them in the papers. To have been in a shop as it was attacked or set on fire must have been terrifying.” He added, “A strong message must go out that the retail sector, and those who work in it, will be protected."

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