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Louise Gittins, chair of the LGA, said it would take time to resolve tensions in communities affected by the spate of violence seen in towns and cities across the country.
She said: “The unrest and violence we have seen around the country has been deplorable. As always, councils are striving to unite communities and not divide them and are leading local responses to protect communities from those who seek to sow division.
“While it has been encouraging to see the community spirit and response in the wake of these awful incidents, with residents and businesses helping to clean up areas and repair damage, we know that it will take much longer to resolve community tensions.
“The LGA is supporting councils affected and stands ready to work closely with them and the government to ensure life can return to as normal as possible for communities affected.”
It comes after violent protests spread across Britain after three girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, north-west England, last week.
The murders were seized on by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups as misinformation spread that the suspected attacker was an immigrant and a radical Islamist.
Dozens of rioters have been arrested after shops and businesses were vandalised and looted and several police officers were injured. A hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was also set on fire.
On Sunday the prime minister said a “standing army” of specialist police would be set up and promised “swift criminal sanctions”.
Keir Starmer said in a statement: “Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest. It is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities.”
Home secretary Yvette Cooper also announced a new rapid response process for mosques following the violence. It means mosques at risk of violent disorder can be offered additional security personnel.
Police, local authorities and mosques can now ask for rapid security to be deployed to protect communities and allow a return to worship as quickly as possible.
Cooper said the new process would boost the work already being done by local police to protect mosques.
She added: “As a nation we will not tolerate criminal behaviour, dangerous extremism and racist attacks that go against everything our country stands for.”
