VALE MP Peter Luff claims plans to merge police forces in the area would be 'insane' and to the detriment of people in the Vale.

The Home Office announced they were considering new options for the creation of a regional police force in the West Midlands in a letter to chief police officers and chairmen of police authorities.

A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in September found the current 43 police force structure can no longer provide effective community policing while dealing with major investigations and serious cross-regional crime.

The Home Secretary asked all police forces and authorities to consider the best options for their region and submit their final proposals by next month.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has decided on two options; West Mercia police force merges with Staffordshire and West Midlands comes together with Warwickshire.

But the Mid Worcestershire MP believes under these new proposals the people from the Vale are in a lose, lose situation.

"These ideas are insane, arbitrary and wrong for the local police force and the people from the Vale of Evesham.

"If we join with Staffordshire police we become too big geographically. The area would just be too big. It's not a good option but it's the better of the two.

"If West Mercia police came under the West Midlands force then the problems that arise in Birmingham would dominate the whole region. If there was a riot in Birmingham our whole police force would go over to Birmingham. We have enough trouble as it is at the moment trying to locate the local bobby. This is insane, it's a no-brainer."

HMIC found forces with 4,000 officers or 6,000 staff would struggle to maintain neighbourhood policing in the event of a major investigations as officers would inevitably be diverted from their responsibilities in the community.

Mr Luff likened this proposal to the novel Sophie's Choice by William Styron where a mother has to choose between her two children.

"Charles Clarke is behaving like a dictator over this matter. I don't often feel strongly about things but on this I do. Parish councils should rise in protest against this."

Andy White, chairman of the Police Federation in West Mercia, believes the Home Office has already made a decision about the force.

Mr White said: "I think the decision has already been made by the Home Office and that regional forces will go ahead."