West Mercia continue to oppose a merger

Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands police authority chairmen and chief constables met minister Tony McNulty to discuss force restructuring.

But it comes as four councils and West Mercia Police take legal moves to block the proposed new force.

And one Staffordshire police authority member is also speaking out against his own group which supports the merger.

Councillor Ian Parry said: "I have always been opposed to merger on the grounds that the benefits are not proven and that stronger co-operation and system integration would be a better option."

He said local forces were being used as a "guinea pig without fully understanding the implications".

'Not capable'

But the three chairmen and chief constables of Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire said, in a joint statement, they have a "strong desire" for a strategic police force in the region.

They said: "The current police force structures are not capable of delivering Neighbourhood Policing and, simultaneously, providing the protective services needed in the modern world to combat serious and organised crime, terrorism and critical incidents."

The three forces ready to sign up to a merger said there were "outstanding issues" over staffing and finance of the new body.

West Mercia Police has started a legal bid to block the merger saying there is not enough time to prepare.

And in a separate move, four metropolitan councils are legally challenging the plan over rises in council tax.