Police forces ordered to merge
Home secretary Charles Clark got tough with Sussex Police when he announced on Tuesday that Sussex and Surrey police authorities would be forced to merge.Sfter two forces had refused a voluntary merger, he announced he was using his powers of direction to force an amalgamation.
As a result a four month period of consultation has begun with the new force likely to come into being on April 1 2008.
Peter Jones, chairman of Sussex Police Authority, said: "Mr Clarke's announcement is not unecpected but his proposal remains fundamentally flawed and he has so far failed to answer to our case for a federal model for the South East region's forces, which we see as a much better alternative, both operationally and economically.#
For full story see West Sussex Gazette April 13.