One of the characteristics of the British system has been the delivery of local services at a local level to avoid direct central state control, among these services are the police. Yet the process of amalgamation between Devon & Cornwall Constabulary with the Dorset Police without any meaningful public consultation goes forward.

Why this amalgamation is being pursued is a mystery, as the arguments advanced seem very weak but it is hoped to create a new force by 2019. This will create a police force for an area of over 2.5 million people and stretching over 220 miles. Hardly a local service.

All police forces are suffering from financial problems but these will not be overcome by amalgamating these bodies, the reverse is the case. When all the Scottish forces were recently amalgamated, to reduce expenditure, the new Police Scotland cost more than its previous bodies and there were major complaints about the loss of local connections.

The major reason why the Labour plan for regional forces several years ago was dropped was because of the costs identified. Larger organisations cost more than small ones per head of population. Recent reports by the inspectorate showed clearly that the smaller the force, the better the performance.

The real reason why the amalgamation is being forced through lies in the mentality of management who approach problems with the belief that only management can solve issues by the imposition of more management in a larger organisation.

This is a bankrupt concept. One of the arguments is that 25 per cent of each force are already aligned in the strategic alliance, but this highlights the fact that 75 per cent are not.

Consultation has been limited to a small article in local papers (limited to ‘four reasons’) and an obscure website (now closed).

If Police Commissioner Alison Hernandez is genuine in her request for public comment she should put it to a public vote in the local elections next year. After all, the public do pay for the police service.

Paul Hornby

Dartington