The ongoing riots across the UK have significantly affected high street footfall.
- Footfall has dropped by an average of 4.8% from August 4 to August 7.
- Regional cities outside London, particularly North & Yorkshire and West Midlands, faced the steepest declines.
- Protests initiated in Southport sparked further unrest across various cities.
- Retailers have resorted to early closures to ensure the safety of their staff.
The ongoing unrest has caused a noticeable decline in high street footfall across the UK. From August 4 to August 7, there was an average decrease of 4.8% in footfall, with figures from MRI Software’s On Location Footfall Index highlighting the situation. This decline is compared to an overall 2.7% decrease across all retail destinations in the UK.
A significant dip in footfall reached its peak on August 7, where a 7.5% drop was recorded. This was likely exacerbated by a fresh wave of riots and protests that were scheduled for the same day, contributing to heightened concerns among the public.
The most severe impacts were witnessed in regional cities outside of London. In particular, North & Yorkshire saw a decline of 12.9% and the West Midlands experienced a 10.6% drop. Such figures illustrate the broad geographic spread of the disturbances.
The unrest began in Southport, Merseyside, following the dissemination of false information related to a tragic incident involving three young girls. As misinformation spread, riots ensued with incidents of protesters resorting to violence, including petrol bombs and looting.
In response to these events, many retailers have opted to take proactive measures to safeguard their employees. Stores have been closing earlier than usual to prevent any risk to staff and premises. The British Retail Consortium held emergency meetings to discuss strategies for ensuring safety, underscoring the importance of monitoring and rapid response in affected areas.
The unrest has led to significant operational adjustments and a marked decrease in footfall in affected regions.
