Smaller forces face being merged into larger ones

Cambridge are looking for a successor to Tom Lloyd who resigned earlier this year over newspaper reports he made inappropriate comments to a colleague.

The Inspector of Constabulary said the current structure of 43 forces is not fit for the 21st century but Cambridge still aim to fill their top job.

Cambridge could be merged with Norfolk and Suffolk forces.

Home Secretary and Norwich South MP Charles Clark is to discuss plans to reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales with chief constables next week.

He has already said he would welcome the merger of the three county forces into a larger East Anglian constabulary.

Recruitment process

Many of the other smaller ones such as Bedfordshire, Cambs, Northants, Norfolk, Suffolk are resigned to being merged into larger more efficient forces.

Stephen Bett, chairman of the Norfolk Police Authority, spoke for them on Saturday when he said: "I'm Norfolk born and bred and I'd like our police force to remain our constabulary.

"We are continuing our recruitment process for a new chief constable but we know we do not have all the resources we need to do what the Government wants us to.

"The force is being pinched all the time and we are finding it difficult to make ends meet."

The proposals for a possible merger of Northamptonshire Police with a neighbouring one would not result in a poorer service according to the head of the county's force.

Chief Constable Peter Madison says any change should bring a better service and the only reason for merger would be to make an improvement.