Mark Pritchard, has expressed “concerns” over the “back door merger” of West Mercia Police with Warwickshire Police and has called for the end of any merging of “competences” between the two forces until it has been determined who is in charge of the force during the absence of the West Mercia Police Commissioner, Bill Longmore, who is receiving treatment for cancer.
Mr Pritchard said: “Police mergers were abandoned for good reasons. Whilst I support sharing some back office functions with Warwickshire, there should be no attempt, by design or by default, to end up with a full police merger in all but name. West Mercia Police must remain West Mercia and retain its own full policing skills set, experience, and expertise.”
He has also written to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking for “clarity” over who is now in charge of West Mercia Police strategy given the illness of Bill Longmore.
Mr Pritchard said: “We all wish Bill a speedy recovery, but in his absence there needs to be clarity on who is in charge, and what strategic decisions can and cannot be made in his absence.”