The issue of community policing will be raised at the meeting

The chief constables of the Humberside and the North, South and West Yorkshire forces will meet Charles Clarke at the Home Office on Tuesday.

The government says fewer, but bigger, police forces are needed to tackle organised crime in the 21st Century.

Tuesday's meeting will focus on counter terrorism and serious crime policing.

If given the go-ahead, the new regional force would cover the largest area of any force in England.

When the 43 forces in England and Wales submitted their merger plans to the Home Office in December, North Yorkshire and Humberside indicated that they preferred a full regional merger, whereas the South and West Yorkshire forces went for a stand-alone option.

North Yorkshire's chief constable Della Cannings said she had concerns about a lack of detailed information on the plans and would emphasise at Tuesday's meeting the need to make a commitment to community policing.