A planned merger between police forces in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall could be derailed after the top officers involved failed to reach a unanimous decision on the business case.

As reported, the scheme would create a force responsible for some two-and-a-half million residents living between Land's End and Highcliffe in east Dorset.

An announcement to merge the two forces was made in September last year, and earlier this year, police and crime commissioners Martyn Underhill, representing Dorset, and Alison Hernandez, representing Devon and Cornwall, launched a large-scale public consultation.

Members of the press were invited to Dorset Police's HQ in Winfrith today to speak to the PCCs and chief constables about whether or not the business case will be submitted to the Home Office in October.

However, this morning, the meeting was cancelled, and it was announced that Mrs Hernandez does not currently support the submission of the case.

An abridged version of the case is due to appear on the force's individual websites to allow 'greater scrutiny and transparency', Dorset Police said.

"Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer of Devon and Cornwall Police, Chief Constable James Vaughan of Dorset Police, Mrs Hernandez and Mr Underhill discussed the business case on Tuesday during a productive Alliance Convergence Board meeting," a force spokesman said.

"Both chief constables and PCCs agreed the business case, but have not reached a unanimous decision about whether to submit it to the Home Office.

"The Devon and Cornwall PCC’s current view is not to support the submission of the business case to the Home Office and she will be taking it to the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel meeting for further discussion on Friday, October 5.

"A final decision will be made on Monday, October 8 after both Police and Crime Panel meetings, which are taking place within the next ten days.

"Both chief constables and PCCs would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the engagement and provided feedback."

Mrs Hernandez's concerns involve conclusions drawn based on public responses and the limitations of council tax options available.

Both forces are already in a strategic alliance, in which a quarter of all staff operate.

The alliance was first discussed in December 2013, when police across the country faced financial concerns.

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