PLANS to merge West Mercia Constabulary with neighbouring forces have caused concern among some Worcester city councillors.

At this week's council cabinet meeting, members expressed fears about the shake-up, which could see West Mercia and other forces with fewer than 4,000 officers being merged into regional super-constabularies.

Council leader Stephen Inman said: "I believe that we have to keep a local police force and West Mercia is a highly successful force.

"I think the Home Secretary should be very careful about this. I'd say that West Mercia was already ahead of the game by being a combination of county forces."

Coun Mike Layland said

that he feared that the decision had already been made.

"If the Government has made up their mind it will be implemented and that's the sad part about it," he said.

"I hope that I'm wrong."

Coun Martin Clarke added that it was vital that the safety of the public must remain the primary concern.

"Increasingly, the biggest issue that people talk to us about is fear of crime," he said.

"If we reduce our effectiveness in reducing it then we've failed. If we increase our capacity then there is a gain to be made."

Police chiefs are under pressure from the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke to draw up proposals for regional mergers after a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary said that forces with less than 4,000 officers were no longer "fit for purpose".

West Mercia has about 2,400.

The force looked set to merge with one of a similar size, such as Warwickshire, Gloucestershire or Staffordshire.

But, Saturday's Worcester News revealed that a merger with a force covering the entire West Midlands was now being considered.

The move would see the county's policing run by the same constabulary as Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Herefordshire.

Coun Inman added that he was keen to "flag up" concerns, but that more lengthy discussions would follow in November.