Robert Jenrick was threatened as he challenged rail fare dodgers over breaking the law. Filming in Stratford, east London, the Shadow Justice Secretary exposed people bursting through gates and walking through unattended barriers.

Challenging one fare dodger, Mr Jenrick asked: “Do you think it’s alright not to pay? Why don’t you go back and pay?” The man then swore at the former government minister.

He said: “I’m warning you now, move.”

Mr Jenrick hit back: “You what? You’re carrying a knife, did you say?”

Sources close to the former minister could not definitely confirm the yob was carrying a knife, but stressed he muttered something about being armed.

Confronting another, Mr Jenrick said: “Do you want to go back and pay like everybody else does?”

Transport for London (TfL) loses about £130million every year to fare dodging.

TfL has insisted that some 500 officers are deployed on the network to go after people refusing to pay.

But, pointing out the lax security, Mr Jenrick said: “There’s eight officers down there, but one minute away, that gate is wide open.

“It’s also just annoying watching so many people break the law and get away with it.”

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accepted proposals to abolish terms of under 12 months, except for in “exceptional” circumstances.

Under Labour’s soft-justice master plan, up to 43,000 criminals a year are set to dodge jail and walk free from court with a “slap on the wrist.”

As many as 2,700 burglars, 11,000 shoplifters, 160 car thieves, 600 muggers and 80 robbers could now be handed community sentences, based on 2024 sentencing figures.

It could also include up to 3,000 criminals jailed for assaulting emergency services workers, 3,000 for common assault, 1,200 for causing actual bodily harm and 1,200 for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Also dodging a jail term could be 2,500 criminals convicted of carrying a knife or blade.