Police mergers should be put on hold - Oaten

4.00.00pm GMT Mon 26th Dec 2005

Police Officer with Charles Kennedy

Commenting on the Association of Police Authorities' claim that none of the English and Welsh forces will meet the deadline to submit full plans on merging, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten MP said "The Government set an unrealistic target for police mergers and it is no surprise the police have been unable to achieve the impossible."

Mr. Oaten further said "The Home Secretary should abandon these plans and agree to a year long consultation on establishing a police force fit for the twenty-first century, not something cobbled together which will cost millions to deliver."