Arrests pile up as rioters face justice
By Alex Stevenson Follow @alex__stevenson
Early morning arrests took place this morning after magistrates courts sat all night, leaving more and more rioters facing justice for their actions.
The Metropolitan police said it had arrested 888 people in connection with violence, disorder and looting in the capital, with 371 of them charged.
"In the early hours of this morning we started knocking on doors to arrest people," deputy assistant commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said.
"We have got more than 100 warrants which we will be working our way through over
the coming hours and days."
Last night around 16,000 officers were available across the capital for a second consecutive night.
But with no major rioting reported in London – or anywhere else in the country – Met commanders were able to use the extra numbers to arrest a broader range of suspected criminals.
"We want to use their time by going out there and arresting burglars, robbers and thieves – those people who cause concern and crime in our communities," DAC Kavanagh added.
"Some of those warrants are also directly linked to Operation Withern's [the Met's anti-riot] ongoing investigation."
In Manchester, where the violence was at its greatest on Tuesday night, detectives are working through video and photographs, while more than 200 crime scenes are being managed.
"A major police investigation is underway to identify and put people before the courts," Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said.
"They have worked throughout the night to deal with individuals, a number of whom have already been jailed."
These include 28-year-old Eoin Flanagan, of Carson Road, Burnage, who was sentenced to eight months for stealing clothes; 18-yera-old Ricky Gemmell, of Buckley Road, Manchester, who was sentenced to four months in youth custody for a public order offence; and 36-year-old Bernard Moore, of Ridgwood Road, Monsall, who was sentenced to five months for assaulting a police officer.
In Birmingham routes into the city centre were closed from 21:00 BST yesterday evening. The evening passed peacefully without further outbreaks of disorder, West Midlands police said.
Five offenders were sent straight to prison at Solihull magistrates court and 31 further arrests were made yesterday evening.
Fears that the death of three British Asians killed as they protected their community from rioters would trigger tensions and potentially further violence proved unfounded.
"We have seen the benefits of social media being used responsibly to send positive messages about the situation in the West Midlands and to dispel malicious rumour and innuendo," Chief Superintendent Phil Kay said.
"We would like to thank the community for their ongoing support."
The total number of arrests now stands at over 1,100, the bulk of which have been made in London.
Two further people were arrested in connection with the fire at Reeves Furniture Store in Croydon on Monday – a 15-year-old boy and a 25-year-old man. They remain in custody at a south London police station.
Two 17-year-old boys were arrested in connection with looting in the Sloane Square area last night, on suspicion of burglary at separate addresses in the Notting Hill and Belgravia districts.
At around 19:00 BST yesterday a stop-and-search on a 19-year-old man uncovered a stolen mobile phone. Two brand new televisions were discovered when officers conducted a further search.
"Immediately following the arrest, local residents approached the officers with information relating to other suspicious activities in the local area linked to the disorder," the Met said in a statement.
"Police are now following up these leads and thank the local community for their support and co-operation."
