WILTSHIRE could be merged with other South West constabularies to form a regional police force.

The county could become lumped in with Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Gloucester to form one of several regional forces with one chief constable and a designated funding pool.

The idea is being touted as part of the Government's consultation on national police reform, which is seeking views on community engagement, accountability, operational effectiveness and service modernisation.

But the view of Wiltshire Police Authority the body responsible for the performance of policing across Swindon and the rest of the county is a resounding: "Thanks, but no thanks".

Chairman, Bertie Woolnough, told the Evening Advertiser: "Should force structures follow county boundaries or regional boundaries and where would the priorities rest?

"I think the advantages of the present system certainly far outweigh the disadvantages and Swindon is a very different place to many other areas in the South West.

"That's why I am personally against a one size fits all approach."

Now residents across Swindon are being invited to have their say on the future of policing at a public meeting on Monday.

Compared with other police forces in the South West Wiltshire is poorly funded.

With nearly 2,000 staff and a budget of around £83 million the authority has £137 to spend on each person every year.

This compares with £145 in Avon and Somerset and £140 in Devon and Corn-wall, but the county is still one of the safest places to live.

Wiltshire has the lowest crimes per person figure in the South West with 72 per 1,000 people compared with 99 crimes per 1,000 in Gloucestershire and 117 crimes per 1,000 in Avon and Somerset.

Swindon mayor and police authority member Derek Benfield (Lab, Coving-ham and Nythe) said: "The merger is a possibility, although nothing has been decided yet. But if it isn't broke then why fix it?

"If people look at our level of performance against some of the larger authorities I think they need to be pulled up to our level of performance."

Wiltshire Chief Constable, Elizabeth Neville, pictured, added: "I will read the consultation document with interest.

"I would point out that our cost per head of population is lower than the larger forces and our performance much higher.

"I believe that being small makes it easier for us to be in very close contact with our communities.

"Recently we have opened two new police stations in Mere and Bradford on Avon, demonstrating our commitment to stay close to the communities we serve."

The Police and Community Consultative Group meeting is being held on Monday at the Civic Offices, Euclid Street, from 7pm.

gsheldrick@newswilts.co.uk