CUMBRIA'S police and crime commissioner has stepped into the debate about police force mergers.

With national government finances under pressure, the idea has returned to the political agenda.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has said police forces in England and Wales should merge and share resources with other emergency services.

He believes that with public finances facing ever increasing pressure and shrinking budgets, it is time to restart the merger debate.

But Richard Rhodes, the Conservative crime chief for Commissioner, has warned it would be unwise.

In a statement, he said: “I firmly believe that any suggestion for the creation of a North West regional police force would be to Cumbria’s detriment.

"A regional police area based on Manchester and Liverpool will, inevitably mean a loss of resources to what will be seen as high crime areas as opposed to a low crime area such as Cumbria."

"Strategically, a regional force will be making decisions that are not going to have any impact in Cumbria."