London's Metropolitan Police said concerns about shortages of goods could lead "to a significant increase in customers" and suggests stores should consider planning for extra security.
The spokesperson said that while "no advice has been issued in relation to looting," the police are "having these conversations in order to minimize the demands on policing from any resulting large crowds or queues at shops as part of our regular civil contingency engagement with businesses and partners."
The news comes after Dave Lewis, the chief executive of supermarket chain Tesco, revealed the retailer was working with suppliers to stockpile non-perishable goods -- like tinned food -- in case the UK leaves the European Union on March 29 without a deal.
"It's hard to contingency for fresh food, where we can't stockpile. Like other retailers, we'd be keen that there is no friction at the border given the UK imports half of the fresh food it eats," the UK's Press Association news agency reported Lewis as saying.
The UK has ramped up contingency plans in recent weeks as the chances of a no-deal Brexit rise.
Businesses and lobby groups have warned of disruptions at ports as well as dwindling medical supplies, and Britain's defense secretary has put 3,500 troops on standby.
The Department of Health told CNN Friday that it had signed two contracts "shortly before Christmas" to secure space in warehouses to store drugs as part of its no-deal planning.
It was also revealed this week that at least £800 billion ($1 trillion) worth of assets have been shifted out of the country and into the EU by banks and other financial companies because of Brexit.
In December, ministers agreed that an emergency contingency plan was essential in case parliamentarians reject Prime Minister Theresa May's deal when they vote this month.
No Brexit at all?
On Friday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC's Radio 4 that there is a possibility that the UK might not leave the EU at all if May loses Tuesday's parliamentary vote on Brexit.
"Up to now people quite rightly have been worrying about the prospect of no deal, but now there's another possibility coming into sight, which is actually no Brexit. And why is that? We have a government that's committed to delivering Brexit, but it doesn't have a majority," Hunt said.
The Foreign Secretary added that if May's deal is rejected, there might not be opportunities for another type of Brexit.
"What we may end up with is not a different type of Brexit, but Brexit paralysis, and Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit," he added.
Hunt said that outcome could be "incredibly damaging" as it would breach the trust of people who voted for Brexit, and added it would also damage Britain's reputation abroad because of its inability to deliver on Brexit.
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