update:
looks like the magistrates courts arent messing around now, they are processing ~100 defendants/day at the moment in london alone, and practically all of them are being denied bail, referred to crown court and sent back to their cells to stay on remand.
basically this means that anyone charged during the riots will be imprisoned if found guilty. given the mood of the courts, parliament and the people I'd expect some pretty lengthy sentences to be handed out in crown court.
the police are also busy carrying out raids all over london arresting people who thought they could get away with it because of the anonymity of the crowd. CCTV images and communities finally willing to work with the police rather than obstruct them means they wont get away with it.