London riots arrests top 2,000 and police warn fugitives they are ‘far from finished’

Scotland Yard has warned fugitive rioters it was “far from finished” as the force confirmed more than 2,000 suspects have been arrested over London’s disturbances.

Of 2,006 people held by officers over the violence that swept through London earlier this month, 1,135 have been charged.

Commander Simon Foy said: “I want to send a clear message to those involved that you will not get away with it.”

The arrest tally was announced yesterday as Home Secretary Theresa May met police and executives from social media networks to see how they could help prevent them being used for criminal behaviour.

But the government did not seek any additional powers to close down networks such as BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook or Twitter, the Home Office said.

The likes of BlackBerry Messenger – a service which allows users to send free-of-charge real-time messages – enabled yobs to organise their movements during the widespread looting and vandalism across England a fortnight ago.

After yesterday’s meeting, a Home Office spokeswoman said: “The Home Secretary, along with the Culture Secretary and Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne, has held a constructive meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the police and representatives from the social media industry.

“The discussions looked at how law enforcement and the networks can build on existing relationships and co-operation to prevent the networks being used for criminal behaviour.

“The government did not seek any additional powers to close down social media networks.”

Figures from the Metropolitan Police show 954 cases have appeared in court, with 82 people sentenced and 42 jailed.

Scotland Yard’s Operation Withern team has recorded a total 3,443 crimes across the capital linked to the disorder.

Ministers met technology chiefs amid speculation over the possibility of a clampdown on social networking after it was seized upon by troublemakers to incite civil disobedience.