Communities cannot "arrest their way out" of gang crime, the prime minister's new crime adviser, US "supercop" Bill Bratton, has warned. The former New York police chief meets David Cameron next month to discuss violence in English cities and says the issue is for society as a whole. About 1,600 people have been arrested after days of riots, arson and looting. However, Chancellor George Osborne has ruled out a rethink of police funding cuts in the wake of the riots. He told the BBC the government was committed to reforms aimed at trimming £2bn from the annual budgets of forces in England and Wales, which could see 16,000 fewer officers by 2015. "This is not just about police budgets," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. "This is about a far bigger challenge for our society, which is dealing with people who we have ignored for too long; helping them feel they have got a stake in society." Advice from Mr Bratton would help tackle the "deep-seated social problems", the chancellor added. The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, has expressed scepticism about the appointment. Latest developments related to the recent riots include: * Courts are holding special sittings this weekend, with magistrates hearing cases in London and Manchester * A man has been charged with robbery in connection with the attack on Malaysian student Asyraf Haziq, 20, who was mugged by apparent Good Samaritans after being hurt in riots in east London * Two men have been arrested over the death of Trevor Ellis, who was found with bullet wounds in a car in Croydon, south London, during Monday night's rioting Mr Bratton, who also previously headed Los Angeles police, told US broadcaster ABC that while arrest was appropriate for the most violent, the issue was one for society as a whole. "You can't arrest your way out of the problem," he said. "Arrest is certainly appropriate for the most violent, the incorrigible, but so much of it can be addressed in other ways and it's not just a police issue, it is in fact a societal issue. "It's not easy, it's hard work, but it can be done and in many respects you have to argue that it must be done because you just can't continue the way you've been going." He went on: "I think part of what the government is going to do is to take a look at what worked and what didn't work during the course of the last week. "My assignment is to focus more on the issues of the American experience dealing with gangs and what we may be able to share with them that might help them to prevent similar activities in the future." 'Tough tactics' Over the past two decades, Mr Bratton has gained a reputation for introducing bold measures to reduce crime, particularly in LA after riots in 1992. "Our success in Los Angeles in reducing gang violence significantly was a co-ordination of very assertive tough police tactics but also a lot of community outreach, a lot of creative, innovative programmes such as a significant use of gang interventionists." Downing Street said Mr Bratton would not be a long-term, paid consultant and would not be formally appointed to any UK police force. The move comes after violence started in London last weekend and soon spread to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham. City neighbourhoods were left smouldering, with shops vandalised and looted. The deaths of five people have been linked to the riots. Metropolitan Police Federation chairman John Tully said he did not think American advice would help. Although he has a glittering record across in the States, it's a different style of policing. The gang culture's different." Pointing to cases where officers had been charged over the way they tackled violence, Mr Tully challenged the government to be clear on how robust police should be and the tactics they should use.