Labour's soft justice bill will put children at risk as officers struggle to monitor sex offenders left free to roam the streets, the police watchdog has warned.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer has issued a dire warning that the Government's Sentencing Act could even 'create opportunities for further reoffending' by paedophiles who will no longer be locked up.

In a shocking report, she warns that police are already overwhelmed by the number of online child sex abuse reports they are receiving, with many forces running out of officers and staff to investigate.

Now the former Cumbria Chief Constable fears Labour's plans to jail fewer offenders by ditching shorter prison sentences and releasing inmates earlier will 'increase the risk to the public' from sex offenders.

Her report warns: 'This will increase the number of community-based sentences and the number of registered sex offenders in the community.

'This could mean that online child sexual abuse offenders have access to the internet, which they wouldn't have in prison.

'They are also likely to have less supervision than in prison. This could create opportunities for further reoffending.'

She predicts the consequent increase in sex offenders in the community will 'lead, therefore, to unplanned increases in police workloads. It also will increase the risk to the public.'

Ms Skeer, who is a former national police lead on the management of violent and sex offenders, is the first woman appointed to be His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

In her first major report in the role, she warns that police are already swamped by existing online child abuse cases, as demand 'isn't only increasing but exceeding resources'.

The number of referrals for online child sex abuse to police forces rocketed by 66 per cent from 12,469 in 2023 to 20,704 in 2024.

In the last decade, the number of registered sex offenders has also increased by 48 per cent, with nearly 3,000 more added to the register in 2024/25 compared to the previous year.

Ms Skeer fears the 'risk to the public may increase' as she says: 'Forces' staffing numbers aren't sufficient to meet the increasing demand they are facing.

'And legislation changes, such as those proposed by the Sentencing Bill 2025, are likely to add to this demand.'

Her report highlights how children are being already 'insufficiently safeguarded' as stretched officers are so busy it can take a year to complete investigations.

In a postcode lottery on how well the crimes are investigated around the country, one force had 81 referrals dating back over a year it had not yet had time to consider.

Other forces are taking up to two years just to examine a suspect's phone, leaving victims at risk during this time.

Overloaded officers are expected to handle up to 54 cases at a time, leading to 'investigations stalling'.

Ms Skeer said: 'During our inspections, we found that many forces didn't have enough officers and staff to investigate online sexual abuse.'

In some cases forces are failing to arrest suspects, search properties and seize devices because it is quicker to invite them in for 'voluntary attendance' interviews.

In other cases, forces are not imposing bail conditions to prevent paedophiles accessing children and the internet, missing opportunities to safeguard the public.

Even when bail conditions are set, forces are missing breaches by offenders.

The inspection also highlighted blunders in the monitoring of registered sex offenders in the community, with forces failing to record enough details to monitor risk.

In some forces, one supervisor could be responsible for 500 registered sex offenders.

Many forces failed to complete home visits on time, potentially missing reoffending, which Ms Skeer said 'suggests that the force doesn't have the capacity to manage registered sex offenders or the increasing demand.'

She concluded: 'Demand is rising at a rate that forces cannot keep pace with using current resources.

'Children are waiting too long to be safeguarded. Investigators are carrying unsustainable caseloads. And too many forces lack the technology and training they need to do this work effectively.

'The Home Office, the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing must act urgently on our recommendations. Without national investment and co-ordination, the situation will worsen and children could be put at further risk.'