The number of individuals arrested for their involvement in recent riots across the UK has surpassed 900, according to official figures released tonight. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) confirmed that a total of 927 people have been arrested, with 466 charges already brought forward.

As the crackdown continues, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, has issued a stern warning to those involved, stating that the most serious offenders could face up to ten years in prison. He emphasized that the justice system is entering a “new phase” where more serious charges with stiffer penalties will be pursued.

The Public Order Act 1986, which outlines the offence of riot, defines it as an act involving “12 or more persons who are present together using or threatening unlawful violence for a common purpose.” While many of those brought to court so far have been charged with the lesser offence of violent disorder—carrying a maximum sentence of five years—authorities are now considering more severe charges.

“We warned of the consequences, and we will deliver those consequences,” Parkinson told The Sunday Times. “It’s not about exacting revenge; it’s about delivering justice.”

The longest sentence handed down so far has been three years, but with the new phase of prosecutions, harsher penalties are expected.

Among those recently arrested is a 15-year-old boy who has become the first child convicted for his role in violent disorder in Sunderland. He was apprehended during early-morning raids on Friday and has since admitted to one charge of violent disorder and burglary.

In addition to the arrests in Sunderland, police in Staffordshire have charged three men and a woman following violent disorder in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and Tamworth last weekend. Other recent arrests include individuals in Bristol and Tamworth.

The riots, which erupted following the tragic Southport knife attack on July 29 that left three young girls dead, have been fueled by false rumours spread on social media. These rumours falsely blamed a Muslim small-boat migrant for the attack, leading to widespread far-right violence across the country.

Specialist police teams are now focusing on identifying and prosecuting online agitators who incited violence through social media platforms. The regional organized crime units are actively investigating hundreds of leads, with Chief Constable Chris Haward of the NPCC emphasizing the importance of holding these “influencers” accountable.

Anyone who has been a part of this appalling behaviour should be aware that we have specialist officers from the regional organized crime unit network monitoring content and working at pace to identify you,” Haward said. “Online crimes have real-world consequences, and you will be dealt with in the same way as those physically present and inflicting the violence.”