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Hampshire's chief constable Alex Marshall signed an agreement to merge covert units and other services with forces in Surrey, Sussex and Thames Valley
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Police forces merge units to try to save cash

By Richard Pain
January 21, 2010

HAMPSHIRE Police has signed a deal to merge some of its services with a trio of neighbouring forces.

Witness protection, covert operations and technical support will now be provided in conjunction with Thames Valley, Surrey and Sussex police services.

The agreement was signed by the chairman of the four police authorities and their forces' chief constables, including Hampshire's Alex Marshall, at a meeting held in Sussex on Tuesday, January 14.

Surrey Police, which is looking to make big changes to policing, including closing stations in Farnham, Camberley and Ash, welcomed the move as a good way of saving cash for all four police forces.

Peter Williams, chairman of Surrey Police Authority, said: “Significant cuts in public spending are looming and police authorities in the south east are taking the initiative sooner rather than later for the tougher times ahead.

“Collaborating with our neighbouring authorities is a big part of these preparations.

“The significant cost savings we expect to make through collaboration will free up money to help us protect the front line services that the people of the south east tell us matter most to them.”

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Merging with other police forces? why would any other police force want to merge with Hampshire police after they have been voted 'the most complained about force in the country', maybe our pathetic force, (sorry farce) is trying to avoid this accolade by effectively passing the buck over to any other forces stupid enough to merge with them?? Hampshire police have proved themselves as worthless to me and others I know time and time again, to merge to save cash is just not going to make a bad situation better, it will make it worse.

werf44
27/01/2010 at 09:25

Let's stop prevaricating and have a national police force with regional chiefs, which could make real economies of scale and deliver joined-up policing.