POLICE chiefs in Wiltshire are finalising their plans to guard the county force against the threat of a merger by canvassing public opinion.

The long-term future of Wiltshire Constabulary looked in doubt after Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled sweeping changes in a consultation document.

In the green paper Policing: Building Safer Communities Together, Mr Blunkett outlined a series of changes to the 43-force structure, to deal with modern policing demands, including the creation of lead forces for crimes like murder, paedophilia and complex fraud.

People living in the county are being urged to have their say and bolster the cause, by attending one of a series of meetings due to be held across the county.

Meetings, jointly organised by the county force and police authority, will be hosted at venues in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Devizes, Salisbury and Swindon later this month.

Authority officials vowed to send a robust response to the Home Office to fight any plans to dissolve the force into a larger specialist unit.

They have until January 27 to formulate any response.

Mr Blunkett said the thinking behind the changes was to make police forces more publicly accountable and better equipped to cope with serious and organised crime.

In his address, the Home Secretary said: "I want to see the police commander of the future with much more power to take the decisions on the ground that make a difference, with the backing of local residents who feel they can make their voice heard."

West Wiltshire MP and shadow health minister Dr Andrew Murrison said he would be opposed to any plans aimed at dissolving what he labelled a "well organised and effective" police force.

No forces have been earmarked for the axe under the guidelines, but Wiltshire was thrown into the arena because of its status as one of the smallest forces in the country.

Police authority officials said the cost per capita of population was considerably less in Wiltshire, while its success rates at keeping crime down was significantly higher.

MEETING DATES

January 12, 7pm: City Hall, Salisbury.

January 13, 7pm: Trowbridge Civic Hall.

January 14, 7pm: Devizes Town Hall.

January 15, 7pm: North Wiltshire District Council offices, Monkton Park, Chippenham.

January 19, 7pm: Swindon Borough Council offices, Euclid Street, Swindon.