Under the plans put forward by the Home Office Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire would merge to create a new force in April 2008.

Mrs Birkin said the first meeting between police authority chairmen and the minister since a hold on the plans was announced had been very positive.

"There was a good rapport between all parties in the meeting and a common understanding that we need to concentrate on the outcomes — better policing — rather than getting constrained by a debate around structures," she said.

The chairmen will now discuss with their respective chief constables how to go about developing alternative proposals for further discussion.

Mrs Birkin said they were more confident that the Home Office recognised the need to give breathing space for the proposals to be developed and time to consult local people.

She added: "We recognise the need to change in order to make the force better able to meet the challenges of 21st century policing, but the proposal to merge, which the Government seemed intent on forcing through, is unworkable and not financially viable in its current form.

"This meeting clearly indicates that the Government now recognises this and we will now work hard at putting forward new proposals for further debate."

Derbyshire Police Authority is currently consulting on the Government's proposals with questionnaires available at public buildings which can be returned free-of-charge.

Details of the proposals are available on the Police Authority's website at – www.derbyshire.police.uk/policeauthority.

People can also write directly to Mrs Birkin at: Derbyshire Police Authority, Police Headquarters, Butterley Hall, Ripley — or the clerk to the Police Authority, David Tysoe, at Derbyshire County Council, Matlock .

By Emma Downes
emma.downes@buxtonadvertiser.co.uk