Police not supporting merger (From Warrington Guardian)

Police not supporting merger

POLICE chiefs cannot support a merger with Merseyside.

Both Peter Nurse, chairman of the Police Authority, and Chief Constable Peter Fahy are concerned that the final resort for the future of Warrington policing is joining with Merseyside.

"I am extremely disappointed with the Home Secretary's decision that this is the only option for the future of policing in Cheshire

"We have been given no answers to the questions we asked about how the merger will be funded, what will be the impact on our council taxpayers and how will the service be accountable to our communities," said Mr Nurse.

Their anxieties follow talks with Home Secretary Charles Clarke on Monday.

The main concerns so far:

l How will the £30 million merger be funded and what effect will it have on Warrington's tax payers?

At present Cheshire's force has the sixth lowest police precept in the country at £102.60, but Merseyside is £13 higher at £115.68.

l Another worry is how will the move affect the town's current police staff and how will those leading the amalgamated force be selected?

l There are also fears that merging with Merseyside will fail to target terrorism and organised crime in the same way the initial plan for a regional organisation would.

Peter Walker, chairman of Warrington Police Forum, reiterated the same worries: "We have asked lots questions with very few answers but we are expected to make a final decision in a ridiculously short space of time by February 24.

"But what we do has to be in the best interest of Warrington and Cheshire.

"At the moment it does not look like a proposal we can support."

If the merger is not approved by the deadline the Government will have to take the matter to Parliament.