Welsh forces are currently too small, the UK government says

The Home Office has denied reports that its proposals for mergers across Wales and England are about to be dropped.

But the Association of Chief Police Officers has said that all the mergers will not go ahead.

Welsh police authority chairs and the assembly government are due to meet the policing minister in Cardiff this week.

All four police Welsh authorities oppose the plans over issues such as funding and community policing.

Reports in Tuesday's Times and Daily Mail claimed Home Secretary John Reid was ready to call off the merger plan after the only two English forces who were willing to join together pulled out when they were told there was no more money to fund the changes.

This wasn't a good idea for Wales and I'd be glad if the home secretary comes up with his announcement as soon as possible Ian Roberts, North Wales Police Authority

For critics of plans for a single Welsh force, cost was a major stumbling block.

The Home Office said there would be no enforced mergers and ministers were happy to continue discussions with chief constables.

North Wales Police Authority had accused the UK government of waging a "cynical misinformation" campaign over the merger plans.

'Common sense'

Ian Roberts, chair of the authority, said: "If these newspaper articles are correct, I think we need to congratulate the home secretary on using some common sense and looking at the whole."

He said his authority's opposition to a proposed single Welsh force was based on more than the cost of the merger.

He said there were many problems underlying opposition in north Wales, including its culture, geography, and travelling time.

"At this moment and under the present circumstances, this wasn't a good idea for Wales and I'd be glad if the home secretary comes up with his announcement as soon as possible."

The merger of Wales' four forces - South Wales, Dyfed-Powys, North Wales and Gwent - has been mooted since the publication of a HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report in September 2005.

A Home Office spokesman said the department was "not going to force mergers on any forces or communities" and discussion and dialogue with police forces and authorities would be "ongoing".