New hope for Force

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 27th Jan 2006.

HOPES have been raised for Wiltshire Police to remain a stand-alone force after the Prime Minister pledged not to force through controversial merger plans.

Tony Blair announced in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday he is prepared to listen to opposing views on Home Office proposals to amalgamate forces.

West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison said he was pleased with the comments.

"I'm more hopeful than I was first thing Wednesday morning because the Prime Minister's comments appear to point towards a bit of a rethink at the highest level," he said.

While the Prime Minister was speaking police chiefs were lobbying their MPs in a bid to persuade the Home Secretary Charles Clarke to rethink his merger plans.

Dr Murrison, along with other Wiltshire MPs, met Chief Constable Martin Richards and Wiltshire Police Authority chairman Bertie Woolnough.

They discussed the possibility of an alternative option of a federation between regional forces rather than an official merger. The Home Office has already announced its preferred options for Wiltshire would be an amalgamation of the five regional forces or a merger with Avon and Somerset, Dorset and Gloucester.

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