Scotland Yard launched a series of night-time raids on 23 London addresses after six months of evidence-gathering in its probe into the August riots.

The addresses were across the Stonebridge Estate in Harlesden, northwest London, and are linked to the "Thugs of Stonebridge" gang that took part in the summer disorder.

Those arrested in the raids were being held at police stations across London, while searches and police enquiries continue.

Police have seized items including phones and laptops, as well as a quantity of drugs.

"The Metropolitan Police is cracking down on gang crime in London to protect communities. We will continue to relentlessly pursue gangs and gang members through proactive operations and investigations such as this," Chief Superintendent Matthew Gardner said.

"These arrests also demonstrate our commitment to prosecute all those who took part in the London disorder."

On 9 August members of the gang were caught by police running away from two transit vans they are alleged to have been travelling in to go looting.

The 22 people were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Of those arrested in 1 March's raids 14 are of the group of 22 arrested last summer.

Operation Withern, the Met's investigation into the capital's riots, has seen 4,019 arrests made so far.

There have been 754 custodial sentences dished out by judges, from 1,522 people sentenced for their roles in the riots.

Investigating officers still have around 45,000 hours of CCTV footage to trawl through on the hunt for everyone who took part in the unrest.

(Video: BNCTV North West London)

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