Prime Minister David Cameron has promised rioters that they “will feel the full force of the law” in the wake of the recent troubles which have dogged the country leaving widespread damage to homes and businesses.

Cameron, who cut short his holiday in Tuscany to deal with the crisis was speaking outside Downing Street after chairing a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee, Cobra.

“People should be in no doubt that we will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain’s streets and to make them safe for the law-abiding,” Cameron said.

“You will feel the full force of the law,” the Prime Minister said, “and if you are old enough to commit these crimes, you are old enough to face the punishment.”

Acting Scotland Yard Commissioner Tim Godwin meanwhile told young rioters: “We have your images, we are asking Londoners to identify people that were engaged in criminality… and we will be coming to arrest you over the coming days – if necessary, weeks and months."

“So stop it now, because we will be there tonight. This isn’t spectator (sport). This is serious criminality.”

Last night London experienced a quiet night after 16,000 police were drafted in to prevent further rioting. However violence broke out further north in Manchester, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

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