Plans to merge Dorset Police and Devon and Cornwall Police are to be scrutinised by the public later this summer.

Residents of the three counties will be asked whether they support changes to create one force that would stretch from Christchurch to the Isles of Scilly.

It comes after Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner told a meeting of the force’s police and crime panel that she will only support the merger if the public are behind it and there is a clear business case to make the change.

Currently, no formal decision has yet been made as to whether Devon and Cornwall and Dorset’s forces will merge but the panel was told there needs to be sufficient support from local MPs, local authorities, staff and unions, as well as policing bodies and the panel itself, if the merger was to go ahead.

Currently, a strategic alliance programme between the two forces exists and has aimed to provide “significant efficiencies and better working” for the last four years. They share a number of support services including administration, IT and human resources.

A full business case would need to be submitted to the Home Office by October 12, 2018 for consideration and order must be paid by Parliament by November 7, 2019, in order for it to be completed in time for the 2020 elections.

Ms Hernandez urged people to carefully consider the implications of a merger and take part in an engagement exercise that will open this month and run across the summer.

Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill, added: “In April 2018 the two chief constables, and two PCCs agreed that the outline business case for merger was sufficient that a full business case should be developed. This work continues with the aim of identifying the most sustainable and effective policing model for the three counties.

“The proposed merger between Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police has many potential benefits and will help to improve the way we deliver policing to communities across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

"The two forces have been working in a strategic alliance since 2015; collaborating in critical areas such as roads policing, dog units and firearms and armed response vehicles, as well as supporting functions like finance, human resources and IT.

“Amongst other things a merger will enable us to re-invest the additional savings into policing across the three counties and increase resilience by sharing resources beyond the limitations we are experiencing with our current strategic alliance.

“If approved, it will be the first consensual merger between chief constables in over a century and it will give policing in the three counties a stronger voice.

“However, there are many decisions still to be made and we must ensure any potential changes are in the best interest of the public.

"With this in mind we want to know what the public think about the proposal and will be launching a major engagement exercise very shortly to gather the views of those who live, work or visit Dorset.

"We will be attending a range of events over the summer, and staff will be available to answer questions.

"A website and video will also be launched soon, and I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to have their say on the proposed merger by completing our survey either online and or at one of the many events over the summer.”

Concerns have been raised about the precept levied on households to pay for policing as taxpayers in Dorset currently pay £18 more than in Devon and Cornwall. But it is said this would change this over time.