Thames Valley PCC survey finds 75% of respondents oppose police force mergers
Matthew Barber says the results send a "very clear message" about plans to create larger regional police forces
Three quarters of people who responded to a survey on the future of policing in the Thames Valley say they oppose plans to merge forces into larger regional organisations.
More than 2,300 people took part in the consultation launched by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber.
The survey followed the publication of the Government's Police Reform White Paper and asked residents for their views on proposals to reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales.
Of those who responded, 75% said they opposed force mergers, while 18% supported them and 7% were unsure.
Respondents were also asked about the potential risks of creating larger regional forces.
Among the most common concerns were that policing could become less visible, officers could have less local knowledge and forces could become less responsive to local priorities.
People also raised concerns about how police resources would be allocated and the potential impact on community engagement and trust.
The survey found 34% of respondents had not been aware of the Government's plans before taking part.
Mr Barber, who has previously spoken out against the proposals, said the results sent a "very clear message".
He said: "Residents understand that effective policing depends on local knowledge, local accountability and strong connections between officers and the communities they serve.
"They are concerned that these proposals would take policing further away from the public and weaken those relationships."
Mr Barber argues the main issue facing policing is how forces are funded rather than their size.
He said reorganising force boundaries could cause significant disruption and cost millions of pounds, without guaranteeing improvements to services.
Mr Barber added: "There is a real risk that these changes could reduce local accountability, make policing less responsive and divert resources away from the frontline at a time when we should be focused on preventing crime and keeping communities safe."
The Police and Crime Commissioner says he will share the survey results with the Government and continue to argue for policing which is "rooted in local communities, accountable to local people and focused on delivering the best possible service to the public".