Following last week’s attack in Southport that left three children dead and others injured, violent protests have broken out across the country. With hundreds arrested and community leaders and politicians calling for calm, what is the impact on businesses of this type of social unrest?

Kate Palmer, employment services director at Peninsula, says: ‘With the headlines and social media feeds full of violent imagery, this can be a distressing and unsettling time for many, including businesses.

‘Whether it’s wondering how to keep employees safe, or navigating discord in the workplace, there are many HR issues in play here.

‘Some businesses such as hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, and – of course – the emergency services are directly impacted. They may have been targeted by protesters, suffered damage or loss, or had employees caught up in the riots either inadvertently or deliberately.

‘