Marks & Spencer's retail director has called for a crackdown on retail crime, after a string of incidents involving shoplifting and violence at its stores.

Thinus Keeve said police should be given the resources to tackle the issue, which he says is "getting worse, not better", with retail staff facing "abuse and violence in their workplace every day".

Writing in the Telegraph, Keeve said he had written to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan urging him to provide support extra for police.

It is understood the mayor will meet M&S soon.

Police responded to reports of anti-social behaviour involving a group of "several hundred young people" last weekend in Clapham, south London.

Many were seen entering an M&S. Keeve said: "In the past week alone we have had gangs forcing open locked cabinets and stripping shelves, two men brazenly emptying the shelves of steak and walking out, a large group of young people ransacking a store before assaulting a security guard, a colleague headbutted trying to defuse a situation and another hospitalised after having ammonia thrown in their face. "

"We need to recognise this for what it is.

And one that demands a co-ordinated response across government, policing and industry," he added. Keeve said retail crime has become "more brazen, more organised and more aggressive", adding: "We need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response, using tools that already exist to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots. "

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and the mayor fully supports the Met Police's data-driven and targeted approach to tackling prolific offenders. "

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones called the incidents "disgraceful" and urged police to use all the tools at their disposal to protect workers and punish those responsible.

"We're giving police stronger powers, ending the immunity for thefts under £200 so that shoplifters can be prosecuted," she added.

About 100 officers were called to Clapham High Street on Tuesday where young people were reported to be attempting to access shops and a restaurant.

They also lit fires and set off fireworks on Clapham Common.

Six teenage girls have been arrested after two separate incidents of anti-social behaviour "fuelled by online trends", according to the Met Police

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