MP calls for one chief constable for West Mercia and Warwickshire forces

The two have effectively merged in all but name.

All staff below the rank of deputy chief constable are shared and the budgets are pooled.

The forces retain their own identity for neighbourhood policing but share everything else. Both, however, have a chief constable earning more than £130,000 a year.

Despite this, the forces each still have their own senior leadership teams because the law requires each to have a chief constable on a six-figure salary.

Keith Vaz, the Labour MP who heads the parliamentary home affairs committee, called for a change to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 so that it would be possible to appoint just one leader in forces sharing a high number of services.

He said a change in the law was needed so taxpayers did not have to foot the bill for two chief constables - and his calls have been backed by the top man at West Mercia Police.

Mr Vaz said: "It does seem odd we have two administrations with two chief constables.

"It's far better in that situation to have one - not only because of the saving to the taxpayer but also because there is a clear chain of command."

A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary said last summer that Warwickshire had embarked on the "most ambitious collaboration in the country" through its strategic alliance with West Mercia Police.

David Shaw, the chief constable of West Mercia, said: "I personally feel that the better option in the long run, at some point, would be one chief looking after that whole area.

"We have demonstrated that we can address a lot of financial challenges by pulling two organisations together."

Tom Winsor, HM chief inspector of constabulary, said last month that the policing landscape in England and Wales, which have 43 separate forces, would have to change to accommodate future budget cuts.

Forces across the country are increasingly collaborating to save money and the issue is likely to become more acute over the next few years, with an increasing number of mergers anticipated.

Other collaborations include Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire forces, which share a single armed-response unit.

Hampshire and Thames Valley have merged or partly merged departments, including IT.