British counter terrorism police are holding a staggering number of DNA profiles and fingerprints of people charged with terrorism or actively considered a threat to national security. Picture: AFP/Carl/De/Souza

The revelation, the first time the figure has been made public, comes as London’s big businesses confirm they are to pay higher levies for more armed police about the capital’s Square Mile financial district amid growing fears of a terror attack.

The number of DNA profiles that the UK has on file was made public for the first time. Picture: ThinkStockSource:Supplied

The police yesterday revealed its counter terrorism database, separate to the larger national DNA database, had biometric details of 7800 people stored as of October last year, many of whom have never been charged but are deemed a national security risk.

The figure represents a rise of 1300 people from the same time in 2013 with more than half not having been convicted but on a watch list.

Under law, the names and details can drop off the database unless a national security determination is made.

The Biometric Commissioner Alastair MacGregor QC conceded there were details of at least 45 individuals in the past few months that had been erased under law even though police had wanted to retain their profiles; case handling errors and delays meant they did not apply for their retention before the two-year limitation.

London’s big businesses confirm they are to pay higher levies for more armed police about the capital’s Square Mile financial district. Picture: AFP/Leon NealSource:News Limited

Meanwhile, London’s financial district has revealed it is to pay a higher business levy, under the first rise in almost a decade, to contribute an extra AUD$3.05 million this year toward anti-terrorist measures.

Earlier this week Scotland Yard revealed extremists linked to Islamic State were plotting “enormous and spectacular” terrorist attacks on Western lifestyles.

Roger Chadwick, chairman of the City of London Corporation, said the increase in business rates levied on City businesses would ensure police had the resources necessary to combat the threat of terrorism.

City of London Police Commissioner Ian Dyson agreed the terrorist threat continued to “develop and adapt” and so too did police.

“The extra investment will ensure that we can continue to protect the people, businesses and buildings of the Square Mile against terrorism,” he said.

The money was to go toward extra armed officers to join the city force of 800 officers and programs like Operation Servator, where undercover officers backed by CCTV seek to spot unusual behaviour by those on hostile target reconnaissance of infrastructure in the district.