Police merger plan costs millions

Some forces spent half a million pounds on the plan

The BBC has learned some police forces are demanding money back from the Home Office after the Government abandoned plans to create a series of "superforces".

The latest figures obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that the 43 forces spent at least £6m - studying the implications of the proposals.

The superforce idea, which came from the Home Office, was highly unpopular with the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

Many smaller forces would have been forced to merge with their neighbours, leaving just 17 "superforces".

And some spent around half a million pounds fighting the proposals.

The plans were abandoned earlier this year when John Reid took over as Home Secretary.

This morning on Breakfast:

Breakfast's Tim Muffett found out where the money went - and how much policing it could have bought.

He reported from Sussex, where the police force spent around half a million pounds fighting the merger proposals

We also have a full break-down of the figures so far collected, so you can see for yourself how much your local force spent.

Roughly half the police forces in England and Wales have replied. But the final total may be considerably higher.

Police force mergers: spending

Avon and Somerset: not available

Bedfordshire: £96,000