The General Pharmaceutical Council has said pharmacies in areas blighted by rioting should consider temporarily closing to protect staff from violence, abuse and racism.

More than 400 people have been arrested and 140 charged after far-right rioters took to streets in towns and cities across England and in Belfast in Northern Ireland, carrying out attacks on houses, businesses and cars and clashing with police. On Sunday, rioters attempted to set fire to a hotel in Rotherham housing asylum seekers.

After two Filipino nurses were attacked in Sunderland, the health secretary Wes Streeting said intimidation and racist abuse of NHS staff “or staff in any health or care setting” would not be tolerated and perpetrators “should be turned away.”

Businesses have been boarded up because of fears violence from far-right groups may erupt again and pharmacy’s regulator said closing should be an option for pharmacy owners.

The GPhC’s chief pharmacy officer Roz Gittins said pharmacy employers have a duty of care to keep staff safe at work and urged pharmacy owners to “urgently consider” any steps that would protect employees from harm.

“(Pharmacy owners and employers can make) sure that pharmacy staff are not asked to work alone,” she said, adding Responsible Pharmacists can decide to temporarily close the pharmacy if the safety of staff and patients is at risk.

“We call on employers to do what they can to reassure their staff and highlight the support available to help staff to protect their health and well-being, at this very difficult time,” Gittins said.

“Our regulatory standards and guidance are there to help safeguard pharmacy staff, as well as patients and members of the public.”

Condemning “the racism, violence and disorder caused by a small minority of the population,” she said pharmacy teams “may feel especially vulnerable at this time.”

“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those who trained abroad, make an enormous contribution to our pharmacy and health services and they should never have to feel fear when going to work,” she said.

“Any abuse, violence or racism towards pharmacy staff is completely unacceptable, and should be reported to the police.”