PRESS ASSOCIATION -- The death toll from the violent disorder that swept across England has risen after a man attacked by rioters as he attempted to stamp out a fire in west London died in hospital.
Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, who was left in a coma when he was set upon by a mob in Ealing during Monday's disorder, died late on Thursday night, prompting detectives to launch a murder inquiry.
A 22-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of murder, rioting and carrying out three burglaries, police said
Mr Bowes' death follows those of three friends who were run down by a car as they attempted to protect their community from looters in Birmingham and the murder of a 26-year-old father-of-four who was shot during disorder in Croydon.
Another wave of rioters and looters are to face justice in the courts as measures to prevent a repeat of this week's violent scenes are discussed by the Government and senior officials.
More than 1,500 people have now been arrested by forces in towns and cities hit by chaos and destruction earlier this week and more than 500 charged with offences related to the four days of disorder. Scotland Yard said by 7am, 1,051 people had been arrested by the force in connection with violence, disorder and looting and 591 people had been charged.
Prime Minister David Cameron is to chair a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra a day after vowing to do "whatever it takes" to restore order to the streets.
In an emergency statement to the recalled House of Commons on Thursday he set out a range of moves being examined in response to the situation - including the use of curfews and temporary curbs on the use of social media. Mr Cameron also suggested sentencing could be toughened and more action taken against gangs as well as a raft of measure to help damaged businesses and communities recover, including new funds totalling £30 million.
In a clear message to the courts - after police said they were "disappointed" at some of the sentences being handed down - he said anyone charged with rioting should be remanded in custody and anyone convicted should expect to go to jail.
But he fended off repeated Labour demands to rethink planned cuts to police budgets, insisting that they would not affect the numbers of officers on the streets.