30000 people involved in London riots: Police

Scotland Yard today said around 30,000 people were suspected to be involved in the recent violence that gripped the British capital for more than four days.

Metropolitan police figures released today showed 3,296 crimes were committed during the widespread arson, The Daily Mail reported.

This means an average of about ten people being linked to each crime, the daily said.

Even the overwhelming figures, have not deterred the police from nabbing all those involved in the loot and riots.

"It was the true definition of mob violence and the Met is keen to find out who all these people are," a police source was quoted as saying by the Sunday Times.

The violence witnessed a volley of criminal activities ranging from handling of stolen goods to firing at police.

The BBC had reported yesterday that 1,875 people had been arrested so far and more than 1,070 people were charged in connection with the disorder between August 6 and 9.

The prison population in England and Wales is less than 1,500 short of the usable operational capacity of 88,093, Ministry of Justice figures showed.

However, the British Government said enough jail places will be available for those sentenced and contingency measures were in place.

The Prison Service said it was facing an "unprecedented situation" and was "developing contingencies to increase usable capacity should further pressure be placed on the prison estate."