Letter: Shropshire Star

Obsession bypassing our views on merger

Charles Clarke, in a breathtaking display of arrogance and contempt, has vowed to press ahead with merging police forces.

The Home Secretary baa informed police chiefs that he has the power to force through the mergers whether they or the public agree or not.

He has even attempted to entice police forces into complying by offering extra cash if they submitted merger proposals by the deadline.

Not one single force made the deadline and so far few have agreed to a merger.

The Government is obsessed with making things bigger, moving power and decision-making further away from the people.

Everything is about regions - regional fire service, regional ambulance service and now regional police forces.

Not just any regions will do, though. They have to fit in with the regional map of Britain. The regional map of Britain, as per a directive from Brussels, consists of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and nine regions of England.

Each of the nine English regions has a Regional Assembly (RA) which formulates policy and does John Prescott's bidding.

Those who sit on the RA council are appointed by the local authorities in that region - there is no public consultation.

The proposed West Midlands Super force will fit neatlvinto the boundaries of the West Midlands Regional Assembly (aka Advantage West Midlands).

How long will it be until all decisions and services in Shropshire are administered by unelected officials?

Stuart Parr
Telford