Retailers are ramping up recruitment of security staff after three nights of rioting in London and other parts of the UK, according to Peter French, director at security staffing specialist SSR.

French told Recruiter: “There are people seeking additional support – that’s around security. Having said that, the policy around the capital is that where there is the prospect of disturbances retailers, are being advised to close.

“In this situation you are not going to stand there with a bunch of security people and try to control the doors of a retail store – that would not be the best policy.

“The police are the only ones trained to deal with a riot situation. You would not expect shop staff or retail staff to be put in the way of a mob of 100-200 people.

“Having said that, security people do deal with disturbance. I know of situations around the country where stores have been laid siege to and it is only the private security sector that can deal with it.”

French said that companies that had so far escaped the violence were looking to increase security.