Mr Brunstrom said more discussion is needed on police reforms

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain earlier warned that there is "no realistic alternative" to one all-Wales force.

But Richard Brunstrom said more time should be given for the public to decide on the service's shape.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is currently examining whether some of the English and Welsh forces should merge.

The Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, South Wales and North Wales police authorities have submitted three options to the Home Office.

They are to maintain the status quo, merge the existing forces into two, or to merge all four into one.

The home secretary is to rule on the reorganisation in the new year

Mr Hain told MPs at Welsh Question Time on Wednesday that the existing four Welsh forces "do not have the capacity" to meet the challenges of terrorism, drug-trafficking and organised crime.

But he said it was important that neighbourhood policing and accountability remain once the new merged force takes shape.

The Welsh Secretary met MPs from North Wales constituencies on Wednesday to discuss their concerns.

He said: "What I have assured them is that if we do go down this road of an all-Wales force, then the resources that are presently in north Wales have to at least stay there."

However, Mr Brunstrom said the government appeared to be in an "unseemly rush" on the issue, and there was not enough time being given to discuss it.

'Quite unhelpful'

As "a passionate democrat" he said he was concerned that the UK Government was not involving the public - even though the decision will affect public money.

"I think it's really quite unhelpful and quite unfortunate that more time is not being given to discuss the future of policing with the public, " Mr Brunstrom told BBC Radio Wales.

He said he believed there were two options - to merge into one force or to retain the existing four forces.

Disputing Mr Hain's claim that there was "no alternative" to an all-Wales force, Mr Brunstrom said he was not convinced that the decisions had already been taken and that there was still manoeuvring left to be done.

Later on Wednesday, the North Wales Police Authority passed a resolution calling for more information from the home secretary on the restructuring in Wales.

Members put off a decision about whether to support an all-Wales force.

Meanwhile, assembly members have given their unanimous support for a committee report on police reorganisation

In an assembly debate Social Justice Minister Edwina Hart expressed frustration at the speed with which the review had to be conducted.

She argued that any changes to the police forces now should not affect the options in the future for devolving policing in Wales.