HUNDREDS of yobs were left to terrorise Burnley during the riots after arresting trouble makers was ruled to be against police 'tactics' a court heard.

Police officers were ordered to prioritise their efforts in three key areas -- reassuring both white and Asian communities, preventing disorder and, when faced with disorder, to bring it to an early resolution.

The decision not to arrest many offenders was based on a police manual called Guidance on Keeping the Peace which was presented to the court in evidence at the trial of six people.

Mohammed Bashir, 22, of Forest Street, Burnley; Mohammed Nawaz, 35, of Lord Street, Brierfield; Asif Khan, 24, of Francis Street, Burnley; Abdul Rahim Kayani, 18, of Brougham Street, Burnley; Tariq Saddique, 28, of Azalea Road, Blackburn, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, all deny causing violent disorder on several streets bordering Burnley's Asian community on June 24, 2001.

The manual highlights how arresting offenders when a mob is operating, can trigger an adverse response as well as drastically depleting resources.

Chief Inspector Richard Morgan told Preston Crown Court that he was 'confident' the decision had been the right one.

He said: "We had to play catch up with the resources that we had.

"Week in week out we have to deal with football crowds and it is not a straight equation of more resources equal more arrests. It is sometimes better to disperse the crowd."