Police face forced merger (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police face forced merger

A MAJOR shake up of policing in Wiltshire is on the cards as forces across the country try to fight terrorism and serious crime.

A report by the Inspectorate of Constabulary, published this week, heralded a three-month consultation period into a scheme to merge Wiltshire, with just over 1,000 officers one of the smallest forces in the country, with Hampshire and Dorset constabularies.

Chief Constable Martin Richards met Home Secretary Charles Clarke this week to discuss his force's future.

Mr Richards said: "It is too early to speculate but

Wiltshire Police will fully engage in this process and report back to the Home Secretary. We know from consultation and engagement with our communities that the people of Wiltshire value greatly their local police force and policing, locally delivered."

West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison said he would oppose the plan.

He said: "I am very, very doubtful that merging Wiltshire with another force will improve policing. I think that it is important there is inter-constabulary cooperation to tackle major crime. My belief is this already happens.

The report found smaller forces did not have the resources to set-up Major Investigation Teams, hampering their effectiveness in policing major incidents.