FAILURE to tackle prison overcrowding could spark a law and order collapse, police fear.

They have warned of a hike in crimes — including looting — if people aren’t worried about going to jail.

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The Government is set to announce emergency measures today which will let out thousands of lags early.

Jails are currently at 99 per cent capacity, with just 700 cells free.

It is feared that, if prisons are full, the backlog will mean cop cells also fill up — with nowhere for those under arrest to be kept.

Police chiefs are understood to fear a rise in criminal behaviour on the streets if people realise they can act without reprisal.

A senior source said: “That in itself may impact on behaviour of the public and particularly criminals.

“That would be a very serious situation to get into and uncharted territory and we need to avoid that at all costs.”

A senior prison source said officials are “very, very worried” about an increase in arrests over the August bank holiday if no action is taken today.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to say lags will only serve 40 per cent of their sentences behind bars — down from 50 per cent — with the rest on licence.

There would be exemptions for “high risk” cons.

PM Keir Starmer, speaking at the Nato summit, said the situation is “worse than I thought”.

He said: “We’ll have to immediately put in place measures and then talk about the longer term strategy.”

The Prison Governors’ Association welcomed the plans but warned there would not be “change overnight”.