Labour's soft justice reforms will unleash a crimewave, pushing some forces to the brink of bankruptcy, warn police chiefs.

Top brass are bracing for reoffending 'horror stories' when resources become so stretched that predatory criminals are left roaming free.

Forces are preparing for a surge in all crime types across the country next year when the Government goes ahead with plans to jail fewer offenders by ditching shorter prison sentences and releasing inmates earlier.

The estimated bill for having to deal with thousands more criminals on the streets has doubled, from an extra £400million just a few weeks ago to £800million, according to the latest Home Office analysis.

The staggering sum will tip forces already in financial dire straits over the edge, chief constables have warned.

The head of the National Police Chiefs' Council Gavin Stephens has predicted that crime will surge by up to 6 per cent in just one year as a result of the proposed Sentencing Bill, putting the public and victims at increased risk.

One police source said: 'Police chiefs are despairing. Not one penny has been put aside for £800million policing costs and there seems to be no recognition from the Government of what is coming.

'More people will be released early at a time when the Probation Service is crumbling and forces are already struggling to balance the books.

National Police Chiefs Council Chair Gavin Stephens (pictured on May 29, 2025) has predicted crime will increase by six per cent in the coming year because of the proposed Sentencing Bill 

'Police chiefs are despairing,' a source said (Pictured: Police arrest an individual during protests at Bristol University)

'Some forces are genuinely worried about keeping the lights on next year, there are those that are already close to bankruptcy, this will push them over the edge.

'Shouldering an extra £800million of costs is unaffordable, forces are going to have to increase their investigation teams, their call centre staff, response officers, crime scene investigators to deal with all this.

'There could be some really disastrous consequences. Police chiefs are braced for some absolute horror stories in terms of reoffending next year, there will be some nasty cases.'

Chief constables have warned that forces will be so strapped for cash there will be a significant increase in investigation times and longer waits for 999 calls to be answered. 

Officer workload is set to rocket and there will be no one free to deal with some crimes, while proactive operations on issues such as organised crime will be ditched, police leaders say.