Two forces in the North East back the creation of a "superforce"

Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and councillor Anne Wright, chairman of Durham Police Authority, talked to senior civil servants on Wednesday.

They outlined a provisional business plan, but also voiced concerns about who would pay for set up costs.

Northumbria Police also favour of a three-way merger with Cleveland Police.

But the Cleveland force is against the plan and wants to join up with Durham for the creation of a Tees Valley force.

After Wednesday's meeting, a spokesman for Durham Police said a follow-up meeting was being planned with Mr Clarke.

In a letter already sent to the Home Secretary, Mrs Wright has also pressed for an early "face-to-face" exchange with Mr Clarke to debate the future of policing in the North East and the possibility of a first-phase merger between the Northumbria and Durham forces.

She said: "On the basis of all the evidence we have collated we remain firmly convinced that, if amalgamations are to go ahead, the only sensible option for the north east is a single regional force.

'Waste of time'

"However, we do have significant concerns about initial set-up costs, the implications for council tax and the establishment of an effective mechanism for holding the police service to account at neighbourhood level.

"We are unable to see how any amalgamation proposals can be sensibly progressed until these issues are properly resolved by the government."

However, the chair of Cleveland Police Authority accused them of wasting their time.

Councillor Dave McLuckie said: "There is something bizarre about their call for 'urgent talks' when at the same time they apparently recognise that proposals about any amalgamations cannot be sensibly progressed until key issues such as who will pay for the changes, the impact on council tax payers and the crucial question of keeping the police accountable to the communities they serve are answered by the Government.

"As the Association of Police Authorities has made crystal clear, until the government come up with the answers, any discussions on possible options are just a waste of time."