South West police forces fight future merger plans

The forces want to show they are already working together efficiently

South West police authorities have united to fight any future proposals to merge them into a single force.

In 2006, the government abandoned plans to cut the number of forces in England and Wales from 43 to 24.

But ministers have once again raised the prospect of merging forces in order to save money.

Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire say any merger would not make them any more efficient, as the government claims.

The Avon and Somerset authority has so far decided not to join the alliance.

'No public appetite'

With "tough" future public spending cuts likely, the alliance authorities are discussing combining backroom functions which would include equipment purchasing, such as uniforms and vehicles, in order to save money.

The aim is to demonstrate the four forces are already working together efficiently, negating the need for formally merging into a greater South West force.

The alliance is led by Mike Bull, who is chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority.

Brian Preston, vice chairman of Devon and Cornwall Police Authority told BBC News: "There were proposals two or three years ago for a merger, but there was no public appetite and there's no public appetite now.

"Devon and Cornwall is a large force as it is and we think we can provide services to the public better by the talks we're having with the other forces at the moment."

When the plans were abandoned in July 2006 - at an estimated cost of more than £6m - the Home Office said the process of preparing for mergers had caused police forces to work more closely together and build better working relationships.