The police cannot be everywhere at once, unless you hold the above to be true, and accept the seventh Peelian Principle:

Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

So, in the absence of uniformed members of the public nominated as police officers, what are people supposed to do? Silently stand aside and let their businesses be looted and houses burned?

No, people banding together to protect their property and lives is an honourable duty, and a truer mark of civilisation and functioning society than a welfare state and cohesion outreach diversity officers could ever be.

My emphasis. Read the whole thing. Many other interesting points. 

If they want to ‘respond’ to the riots, the Government as part of their response should launch a major new initiative to reaffirm and strengthen the rights (duties?) of people to defend themselves and their property individually and collectively.

Announcing that henceforth no-one will be prosecuted for using force to defend themselves or their property unless the circumstances clearly suggest the defender(s) used massive and intentionally disproportionate force would be a good place to start.