Dear Rioters,

We're all watching you at the moment. We can see that you're young people looking for something to do. We can see that you're nicking tracksuits and trainers from JD Sports. We can see you rummaging around Carphone Warehouse. We just saw one of you struggling to carry a 50" TV out of a smashed-up Currys.

We also know that you're using 'social media' (like BlackBerry Messenger and Twitter) to organise the riots. Guess what? We've got technology too. Actually, our stuff is probably nicer (as you get better handsets if you're not on PAYG which, we assume, is why you're rummaging around that Carphone Warehouse). We've also got unlimited superfast broadband and iPads and Google+ and Instagram and Foursquare and a Flickr Pro account.

Normally we tend to use social media to talk about books, films, art, music, coffee or kittens. But today, our technology is judging you. There are millions of us currently discussing your adventures, and you know what? We're deciding, without realising we're doing it, that all young people who live in deprived areas, or who come from broken homes, or who wear tracksuits and hoodies, are part of your gang. Oh, and your gang just drove a car into our local Nandos. When someone takes away our Nandos - sorry for the language - we get really pee'd off.

One day, when you try to get a job, or a bank account, or buy a house, or go back into education, we will remember today. We will trust you less. We will probably reject you. The police will bother you - and all those innocent young people who you tarnish with your actions - more than ever. This, we're sure, is not what you're aiming for.

You might have a nice new pair of Reebok Classics, but you're destroying the future for you and everyone unfortunate enough to look and sound like you. London will be rebuilt, but the damage to your repuation will be harder to fix.

For crying out loud - shut up, go home, and take out your frustrations playing Wii Sports or knocking one out to TOWIE.

Thanks in advance,









PS. If you want to check out some fun stuff on the web to pass the time tonight, might I recommend: