Forces combine after merger fails

Two police forces, which were to merge with a third, have announced they will now combine resources.

Norfolk and Suffolk Police said the partnership will see major investigations and forensic teams share knowledge and expertise.

Plans by the Home Office to merge Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs forces were rejected by the Cambs Police Authority in 2006 as not being cost-effective.

The proposals were part of the biggest police shake-up in 30 years.

It is faster and easier for two organisations who share so much in common to move forward together Simon Ash, Chief Constable, Suffolk Constabulary

However, plans to merge the forces, under a scheme which would have seen 43 forces in England and Wales reduced to 24, were later aborted by the Home Office after widespread police opposition.

Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk forces estimated preparations for the failed mergers had cost them a combined total of £410,000.

Cambs Police Authority said the plans for the creation of a strategic force would not be the most cost-effective way to cut cross border crime.

Budget pressures

A spokeswoman for Norfolk police said a team of officers from both forces were now working to find out how the forces could best work together.

Suffolk Chief Constable Simon Ash said: "It is faster and easier for two organisations who share so much in common to move forward together."

Norfolk Chief Constable Ian McPherson said: "By developing our relationship as neighbours and partners, we believe we can increase our operational capacity and capability to deliver more resources to the frontline.

"It is about thinking differently and working in different ways to overcome the twin challenges of a future that is marked by continued pressure on budgets and the desire to improve our services further."

Angela Mercer, Suffolk Police Federation secretary, told the BBC the federation had been kept informed off the forces' proposals and the plans were being monitored.

"The amalgamation failed because they didn't precept it correctly," she said.

"This preferred-partnership has been brewing for the past five years. It's too early to say if this is a good idea or not.

"It could enhance career prospects for members. The only issues are if they were able to post someone from Haverhill to Great Yarmouth, but this doesn't appear to be the case."