Kent's police chief has always said the force should stand alone

In consultations 78% of residents said Kent should remain a "stand-alone" force, a spokesman said.

The force is preparing to submit its case to the Home Office after evaluating five merger options.

Sussex Police Authority has also been advised against merger plans, while the Surrey force said it supported police reform and championed modernisation.

Kent Police said people opposed merger plans because of fears that the force could lose its identity; would not perform as well, becoming more bureaucratic and less efficient; and would become "less accessible and less accountable".

A statement also said the cost of merging over 10 years would be �91.4m, compared with �1.1m in the same period to become a single strategic force.

SOUTH EAST MERGER OPTIONS Kent, Surrey and Sussex merge; Thames Valley and Hampshire merge Kent and Thames Valley stand alone; Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire merge Kent, Surrey and Sussex merge; Thames Valley and Hampshire stand alone Kent and Sussex merge; Thames Valley stands alone; Hampshire and Surrey merge Kent, Thames Valley and Hampshire stand alone; Surrey and Sussex merge

Ann Barnes, of the Kent Police Authority, said the findings supported the authority's opinion that the force was big enough to meet the county's policing needs, and the cost of merging was "far too high".

Earlier this month, Sussex Police Chief Constable Ken Jones and the Sussex Police Authority chairman called to "halt the rush into structural reorganisation".

A report will be put before Sussex Police Authority members at its meeting on Thursday.