Shocking video footage shows the moment a smartly dressed man viciously kicks a homeless person in broad daylight.

The CCTV footage shows the man, wearing a fitted suit and carrying a briefcase, walking down the street in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco before appearing to cross the street to attack his victim.

The assailant walks up to the homeless man and kicks him apparently in the head before appearing to shout something and then strolls off.

Pedestrians are seen in the footage before and after the attack but nobody seems to confront the man after the assault took place.

The assailant walks up to the man and kicking him apparently in the head before appearing to shout something and then turning to walk away

The CCTV footage shows the man, wearing a fitted suit and holding a briefcase, kicking the homeless man apparently kicking the man twice in the face before walking off

San Francisco police have appealed for help in identifying the man who they described to be white, wearing a beanie and sunglasses.

They wrote on social media: 'Tenderloin Station is seeking your help to identify this aggravated assault suspect. Anyone who knows who this man is should call (415)575-4444 and reference SFPD case 180387174.'

No additional information about the attack or the condition of the victim was provided by officers.

San Francisco, which in recent years has become steadily gentrified, has a high concentration of homeless people with a high number of shelters and services for the poor and homeless.