The Government has disputed Labour claims more than 10,000 police officers in England and Wales could be cut over the next two years.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the job losses, revealed in a party survey of police forces up and down the country, showed the "shocking and brutal reality" of the Government's spending cuts.
Ms Cooper said the cuts were "only the beginning" as a third of forces had yet to announce reductions to their workforces.
"Far from protecting frontline policing as ministers promised, over 10,000 police officers are being cut in the next few years alone," she said.
"That's 10,000 fewer police officers fighting crime, solving serious cases, or keeping our country safe.
"Cutting so fast and so deep into police budgets is crazy. It is completely out of touch with communities across the country who want to keep bobbies on the beat.
"Chief constables are being put in an impossible position. They are working hard to fight crime, but the Government is pulling the rug from underneath them."
But Policing Minister Nick Herbert said he didn't accept Labour's claims, which he described as "totally dishonest".
He told the BBC's The World This Weekend that "de-bureaucratising" the police and handing officers discretion to deal with cases were just as important as numbers on the frontline if the Government wanted to reduce crime.
"No, I don't accept Labour Party figures," Mr Herbert said. "I think it is better to wait for official figures. We have never said we can guarantee police numbers and nor has the Opposition said that.
