CAMDEN RIOTS: 800 teens sent texts by Camden Council warning them away from riots

The idea of sending messages direct to young people’s Blackberrys and iPhones was an attempt to dissuade them from heading to trouble hotspots. Hundreds were in the streets throughout Monday night during some of the worst scenes of public disorder ever to hit the borough.

Rioters clashed with police, some looted shops and others simply watched, giggling. The council has since sent staff to the homes of more than 250 young people for meetings with their parents, and decided to go further by sending out hundreds of texts. Stronger tactics have been adopted by police and an almost unprecedented “lockdown” operation has been in place over the past two nights.