A REDDITCH councillor and former vice chair of West Mercia Police authority has voiced fears over the job losses which could be caused by proposed police force mergers.

Councillor Bill Hartnett echoed West Mercia Police Authority Chairman Paul Deneen's concerns of the potential budget shortfall if the merger of West Mercia, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Staffordshire goes ahead.

It was revealed last week the proposed regional superforce could create a £220 million funding shortfall -- threatening 2,050 jobs in its first five years.

"If it goes through not only will we be in danger of losing the unique style which is West Mercia policing, we shall by the calculations carried out lose more than 2,000 valuable police posts in the first five years, which is crazy," said Mr Hartnett.

He said the West Mercia was currently recruiting more Community Support Officers (CSOs), bringing the total up to 255 by April next year.

He added: "Redditch will get its fair share who will work with the community on the small but important low-level crime activities which affect our quality of life.

"What can we expect from the new superforce if they will have to cut numbers? I fear with a distant force, with focus on the major centres of the population in the cities, we shall be a small dot on the map."

Last week Mr Deneen urged residents to contact their MP with their views before the objection period ends on July 2.

He said the Home Office had avoided explaining how it planned to overcome the problems, and claimed no additional Government money had been made available to offset the predicted shortfall -- a major reason for seeking a judicial review of the proposals.