Nott believes the paper was unwilling to tip off the public to the trick it was already using to obtain messages.

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Police in Manchester have been inundated with tip-offs from the public in response to their "Shop A Looter" campaign, the force has said.

BBC: Police inundated with calls to 'Shop A Looter' scheme

"Those incidents that reach law enforcement... or receive public attention through the media due to their egregious nature represent the tip of the iceberg, " it adds.

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