Chief Constable Paul West asks why the merge is being rushed through

The Home Office has said West Mercia should merge with Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire Police.

West Mercia Police Authority has unanimously voted to reject the government's merger proposals.

Mr West said the Home Office has failed to consider the views of experienced police officers and residents' wishes.

In an interview for the Hardtalk programme on BBC News 24, Mr West said people deserved to have an informed debate on the matter.

"The government's current proposals represent the single biggest structural and constitutional change to policing in England and Wales in four decades.

"It is a key moment. We are being told it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape policing for the next 50 years and yet our thinking has been artificially constrained by imposition of rigid, unfair criteria and wholly unreasonable timescales."

All I have been asking for is a reasonable, informed public debate and that has not happened yet West Mercia Chief Constable Paul West

Mr West insisted he was not resistant to change but asked why the changes are being rushed through.

"Charles Clarke made it plain that merging West Mercia Constabulary in a huge regional force is his preferred model.

"All I have been asking for is a reasonable, informed public debate and that has not happened yet."

Under Home Office plans the number of police forces across England and Wales will be cut from 43 to 24.

It said larger "strategic" forces will help police combat terrorism and organised crime, and also enhance neighbourhood policing.

Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire forces are in favour of the merge.

Mr West's interview can be seen on Tuesday at 2330 BST.