Decision on police force due next month (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Decision on police force due next month

GLOUCESTERSHIRE Constabulary will now have to wait at least until May before the Home Secretary decides its future.

Several forces in the South West, including Wiltshire Constabulary, have been earmarked for mergers, but Gloucestershire has appealed to the Home Office to be allowed to remain autonomous.

Dr Tim Brain, chief constable of Gloucestershire police, believes his force has demonstrated its capability in dealing with serious crime and a merger will make policing in the region more difficult to carry out.

He said: "My big concern would be the creation of longer lines of communication for the public and also members of the constabulary, difficulties of integration and the set-up costs.

"All this would mean taking our eye off the ball at a time of increased national security and organised crime.

"It's also important to remember the cost of amalgamation in the South West will be significant."

The Home Office is considering merging Gloucestershire with Dorset and Wiltshire Constabularies and Avon & Somerset.

All this despite Dr Brain advising the Government the best option for the county would be to maintain an independent police force.

However, the Home Office says smaller forces in England are no longer capable of tackling the threat of terrorism and organised crime.

It believes the biggest forces handle serious crime best and therefore should be at least 4,000 officers strong, and Gloucestershire has a mere 1,300.

Dr Brain said: "We have now heard officially that the Home Secretary will not be making an announcement on the future of South West forces until next month.

"Forces in the East Midlands, East Anglia and the South East have been informed of their future, as have Yorkshire and Humberside.

"We can only speculate as to the reasons for this delay, but it is difficult to comment any further until we have heard the Home Office's announcement in May."