Hundreds more officers could be patrolling the county if a proposed police merger goes ahead.

That was the message from bosses at Devon and Cornwall Police bosses from the proposed merger of Devon and Cornwall Police with Dorset Police could result in an extra 430 frontline officers and staff.

The plans, which were officially revealed last month would see the combined force responsible for a combined population of around 2.5 million people between the New Forest and Land's End.

The two forces have been in a strategic alliance for several years with 25 per cent of all staff currently work across the three counties.

A public consultation on the proposals is already underway and anyone who wants to have their say on the merger should visit futurepolicing.co.uk until Monday, August 27 to complete a survey.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer and Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Taylor said that there would be an immediate increase of around 100 staff thanks to an extra £3.2million a year being made available through savings.

The staff police bosses say would come from an increase in council tax made up of an uplift of £18 along with an increase of £12 which is already included in the police budget.

However, as a result of the merger going ahead, it would mean that several result top-level roles would be lost which could include one police and crime commissioner and one chief constable role.

Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Taylor, added: “What is happening at the moment is ineffectual, we are having to run three organisations – the two forces and the strategic alliance.

“It is so painful and it is inefficient and ineffective. The alliance has been the right thing to do but we are having to have built-in inefficiences as we have to maintain the legal entities of the two organisations."

Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “The immediate release of £3.2m from merger will be reinvested into 100 new people for the frontline.

"In addition there is a shared aspiration to increase policing capacity to a further 330 for the frontline, and I will be negotiating with the Home Office to this end. There is a commitment to provide 100 people for the frontline in Cornwall.

“If I work with the Chief Constable to significantly increase frontline policing as part of this process, then we will really have achieved something that will sustain a viable and robust police force.”

However, Martyn Underhill, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "If the proposed merger goes forward then the prospect of having up to 430 new staff across a newly created Force is something that I absolutely welcome.

"There will be a lot of work involved to achieve this aspiration. Further efficiencies, precept harmonisation and robust negotiation with the Home Office all need to take place, however we are all committed to making this happen.

“I believe the best way to preserve and then increase frontline staff is by creating a new Force, which will increase the breadth and depth of community policing at a time of unprecedented demand across all three counties.”

If the merger is approved, the new force would become operational by May 2020.