RESIDENTS will be consulted on plans to create a regional police force covering Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Constabulary Chief Constable Frank Whitely will start the ball rolling later this year with a formal proposal to merge his force with Bedfordshire Police, said a Hertfordshire Police Authority spokeswoman

Sally Patient said: "The chief constable will be bringing a formal business case later this year proposing the merger of the force with Bedfordshire Police.

"The authority will not come to any formal view until it has fully assessed this business case.

"If the authority is persuaded by the strength and validity of the case, it will consult widely with the residents of Hertfordshire as well as with other stakeholders before making any final decision.

"The authority will need to be persuaded that any merger will improve policing for those who live and work in Hertfordshire and that the force remains responsive to the needs of those in our county.

"Hertfordshire Police Authority is acutely aware of the need to consider the full range of options for maintaining the current strong performance of the constabulary.

"It is engaged on a number of different fronts including driving efficiencies, reducing bureaucracy and monitoring performance."

However, the merger is opposed by Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps who claimed it would weaken the police's accountability to the public, there would be no cost savings and resources would be diverted to higher crime areas such as Luton.