WARWICKSHIRE Police and Police Authority have submitted two options for the restructuring of the force to the Home Office.

The options are a new strategic force combining Warwickshire with West Midlands, or Warwickshire joining up with Staffordshire, West Mercia and West Midlands.

Both options would see forces still be divided into sub regions, responsible for strategic command, governance and accountability.

Senior figures teamed up with counterparts from neighbouring forces to come up with the aims and agreed the minimum change required was to join with West Midlands, but the best situation would be to join with the whole region.

Warwickshire chief constable John Burbeck said the options reinforced the importance of keeping Coventry and Warwickshire in the same force, and policing would continue to be delivered through neighbourhood policing teams in partnership with community stakeholders such as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.

Consultation into the proposals will now be held and in November residents and community representatives are invited to attend a series of public meetings.

Detailed proposals will then be submitted to the Home Office on December 23, and a response is expected by April 2006.

Phil Blundell, chair of Warwickshire Police Authority, said: "We have an opportunity here to bring together the best of both worlds: the strength of the region and local accountability for policing in Warwickshire.

"Should this option be chosen, we will become part of a police force with extensive experience in both rural and urban policing, and this knowledge will add to the very good service currently being offered in Warwickshire."

For Alcester residents, the closest public meeting will be at Stratford High School, Alcester Road, Stratford, on Wednesday, November 16 at 6.30pm.

Views can also be recorded on the Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Police Authority websites at www.warwickshire.police.uk and www.warwickshirepa.gov.uk