DORSET could suffer under new plans to release criminals from jail early, the county's police federation chairman claims.

A leaked report says the Government wants to release up to 2,000 people in a bid to tackle the prison population crisis.

This week Britain's jails reached bursting point with 80,977 of the 81,458 available places filled.

The report says only prisoners who are serving less than four years for non-violent or non-sexual crimes should be eligible.

But chairman of the Dorset Police Federation Clive Chamberlain has branded the proposals a kick in the teeth' to police officers.

He also claims Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester could be among the hardest hit because they are home to HM The Verne and Dorchester Prison.

He said: "I'm not sure how many people let out stay in Dorset, but not all of them go home and they will continue to commit crime. There have been times when two or three people are locked up and crime comes to a standstill.

"We need to build more prisons, but not in Dorset. We've already got our fair share.

"What a shameful end to Tony Blair as Prime Minister - that he opened up the prison doors and let all the criminals out. That's the legacy he will leave."

And Mr Chamberlain is not impressed that violent and sexual offenders will remain jailed.

He said: "My view is that they are mitigating this by saying they are only going to release non-violent criminals.

"That says to me that they don't have any compassion whatsoever for human feelings.

"People who have been burgled feel violated. It seems to me a lack of understanding of, or comprehension for, anyone who has suffered as result of being burgled.

"Victims of burglary, particularly the elderly, have to have counselling. Tony Blair came in on the catchline tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime' and this sort of policy is the opposite. I'd say he was aiding and abetting crime."

Mr Chamberlain reckons the Government needs to alter the nature of the justice system.

He said: "We need to change the nature of prisons. They are no more than criminal factories.

"Lord Falconer should resign. This is a blatant failure to give support to the police and society.

"I'd commend any officer who managed to get any criminal through the miasma of the criminal justice system. It's a kick in the teeth to police officers to let these people out early.

"It should be a long-term strategy. They need to look at the causes of crime - the why and the where.

"There has to be a long-term investment in areas to stop it happening. At the moment politicians want an easy short-term fix to a long-term problem.

"They work in four-year cycles. We need a Royal Commission to look at it."

A spokesman for the prison service declined to comment on the report but in a prepared statement said: "The National Offender Management Service continues to explore options to actively manage the prison population."