The capital’s reputation following the recent riots – which started in London before spreading to other cities around the UK in five nights of disturbances – seems to be on shaky ground, according to PR leaders.

However, it is generally believed that the damage will be short-term, and that corporate investment around the London Olympics in 2012 will be mostly unaffected.

In a survey of heads of PR conducted by the PRCA, 63 % of respondents agreed that there had been significant impact on London’s reputation in the wake of the riots, which made headlines around the globe; but only 16% thought that the impact would be enduring.

PR leaders were disappointed with the actions of the nation’s and London’s leading political figures in response to the crisis – Boris Johnson’s handling of the situation was however the least criticised out of the current Mayor, Ken Livingstone, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband.

The PRCA believes that the PR industry will have a significant role to play in rebuilding London’s reputation for business and tourism, as the city addresses the issues behind the riots and attempts to move forward.

Image: Andy Armstrong