A PLAN to merge Dorset Police with five other forces stretching from the tip of Gloucestershire to Land's End in Cornwall has been slated as "ridiculous".

The government has ordered the force to merge with others throughout the West Country to create what it claims will be a more efficient "superforce".

The Home Office has put forward two options.

The first is to create two "strategic forces" which would involve grouping Devon and Cornwall together, then combining Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset as the other force.

The second plan is the amalgamation of all the above into the Regional Strategic South West Force with more than 10,000 officers.

Clive Chamberlain, chairman of Dorset Police Federation, says this will be "the death of rural policing as we know it" and added: "It is ridiculous. It is one of the worst things that could happen to Dorset in its 150 years.

"How will Dorset people feel about paying for policing Bristol?

"How will they feel when officers are taken from Dorset to police Bristol and other inner city areas?"

He said a merger would see officers being taken away to work in busier city areas, leaving Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and volunteers to walk the beat in Dorset.

The Home Office has not absolutely ruled out any further consideration of other options, such as stand alone, but it has made it clear they are unlikely to be acceptable when the final decision is made in December.

Other suggestions of Dorset continuing as an independent force, or merging with one or two others, have been rejected by the government.

Now chief constables will be asked to make their representations on the options.

Dorset Chief Constable Martin Baker said: "Our intention is to analyse the regional approach in more detail, but also to develop the options either to merge with Hampshire, or to remain as a single force but to work closely with other forces to close the protective services gap."

Dorset Police Authority chairman, Michael Taylor, said the authority currently has no single preferred option, but it will be canvassing the views and concerns of police staff and members of the public.

"This will be supported by letters to stakeholders in the local community - including local government and criminal justice partners so that we can take full account of their views in our further consideration of the options," he added.

First published: November 11