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| Axed police mergers cost millions | Axed police mergers cost millions |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money was spent preparing for police force mergers which were later abandoned, the BBC has learned. | Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money was spent preparing for police force mergers which were later abandoned, the BBC has learned. |
| Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 27 police forces spent £6.1m preparing for the move. | Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 27 police forces spent £6.1m preparing for the move. |
| Figures for how much was spent by the remaining 16 forces in England and Wales have yet to be revealed. | Figures for how much was spent by the remaining 16 forces in England and Wales have yet to be revealed. |
| The Home Office said the work carried out in preparation for the mergers would stand forces in good stead. | The Home Office said the work carried out in preparation for the mergers would stand forces in good stead. |
| But the Conservatives labelled it a "staggering waste of hard-earned taxpayers' money". | |
| Compensation claims | |
| Plans to cut the number of forces in England and Wales from 43 to 24 were abandoned in July after widespread opposition from police and the public. | Plans to cut the number of forces in England and Wales from 43 to 24 were abandoned in July after widespread opposition from police and the public. |
| The Home Office said earlier it would reimburse forces for the additional costs they incurred preparing for mergers. | |
| The government should concentrate on finding ways to help the police do their job more efficiently David DavisShadow home secretary | |
| But some forces complain no compensation is available for the existing resources which they diverted into the project. | But some forces complain no compensation is available for the existing resources which they diverted into the project. |
| Examples of what forces spent include £340,000 by Cheshire, almost £500,000 spent by Sussex, and £320,000 spent by Devon and Cornwall. | Examples of what forces spent include £340,000 by Cheshire, almost £500,000 spent by Sussex, and £320,000 spent by Devon and Cornwall. |
| West Mercia, South Wales and North Wales each spent £400,000, according to the figures. | West Mercia, South Wales and North Wales each spent £400,000, according to the figures. |
| Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, said some of the preparations had been useful but money had been wasted. | Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, said some of the preparations had been useful but money had been wasted. |
| She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we, and a lot of other people, feel it could have been done in a far more strategic and holistic way." | She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we, and a lot of other people, feel it could have been done in a far more strategic and holistic way." |
| Mrs Berry said there was a good case for merging some forces' administrative arrangements, adding: "I think the government will want to see forces working in a more collaborative way." | Mrs Berry said there was a good case for merging some forces' administrative arrangements, adding: "I think the government will want to see forces working in a more collaborative way." |
| 'Essential work' | |
| The Home Office spokesman said the process of preparing for mergers had caused police forces to work more closely together and build better working relationships. | The Home Office spokesman said the process of preparing for mergers had caused police forces to work more closely together and build better working relationships. |
| He said a number of forces and police authorities had told ministers they thought they could improve their performance through closer collaboration. | He said a number of forces and police authorities had told ministers they thought they could improve their performance through closer collaboration. |
| "The work already done will be essential to achieving such an outcome," he added. | "The work already done will be essential to achieving such an outcome," he added. |
| The mergers were proposed last year after a report said the existing force structure was unfit for purpose. | The mergers were proposed last year after a report said the existing force structure was unfit for purpose. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has since said the mergers are "not off the agenda" and that greater strategic co-operation between forces is needed. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has since said the mergers are "not off the agenda" and that greater strategic co-operation between forces is needed. |
| But shadow home secretary David Davis urged ministers to scrap their merger plans entirely, saying that any regionalisation would be a disaster. | |
| "The government should concentrate on finding ways to help the police do their job more efficiently, such as reducing central government control and bureaucracy," he said. |