POLICING in Wyre Forest could be threatened by a massive potential budget shortfall, according to the chairman of West Mercia Police Authority.

Paul Deneen expressed his concern over what he feared would be a shortfall of more than £220 million in funding for the Government's proposed new regional force for the West Midlands

Under Home Office plans, West Mercia would be combined with neighbouring West Midlands, Staffordshire and Warwickshire forces.

Speaking as West Mercia held what could be its final meeting on Tuesday, Mr Deneen said: "Unless the Government decides to invest very heavily in covering this shortfall, 2,050 police officer posts could be lost in the first five years of the new force's existence.

"I fear that policing performance will suffer if the workforce is cut by the equivalent of 10 per cent over five years.

"For the chief constable and police authority of any new force formed by merging West Mercia Constabulary with Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands forces, that is going to be a huge headache."

He urged anyone keen to express their views over the merger proposal to contact their local MP before the beginning of July, when the objections period was due to end.

Mr Deneen went on: "What makes me particularly concerned is that, even if the loss of 2,050 police officer posts is spread on a pro-rata basis across the four forces the Home Office wants to merge, West Mercia could lose the equivalent of 410 police officer posts."

"As a local council tax payer, as well as chairman of West Mercia Police Authority, I feel incredibly shortchanged by a Home Office that is out of touch with local communities and dismissive of the successes of one of the best performing forces in the country."