THE new independent police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Warwickshire, Ron Ball, has given his full support for the county’s police force to form an alliance with West Mercia Police.

West Mercia’s PCC Bill Longmore, who is also independent, has added his approval for the plans.

Mr Ball, said: “Both myself and Mr Longmore have now been in post for nearly a week and this has given us the opportunity to fully review and understand the proposals under the alliance plans.

“Having both gained a detailed understanding of the rationale behind the alliance it is extremely obvious that in order to achieve the £30.3 million cost reductions across both forces while continuing to deliver the best possible protection, radical changes have to be implemented.”

Mr Longmore added: “The plans in place to deliver high quality, value for money policing services to communities in Warwickshire and West Mercia are extremely well considered. Having met with both chief constables today and reviewed the alliance blueprint both myself and Mr Ball have every confidence that both forces will achieve the cost reductions required and the alliance will increase resilience in critical areas of service delivery. This will result in the more efficient delivery of policing to communities.

“We both recognise the hard work and efforts which have gone in to the progress reached to date and fully support the implementation of the alliance blueprint and the drive forward to achieve these changes.”