BOROUGH leader Tony McDermott has repeated his call for talks with Cheshire Police Authority about a possible handover to Merseyside Police.

Cllr McDermott insisted he has no criticism of the force which serves Runcorn and Widnes, but he feels there is a question mark over how high the borough rates on Cheshire Police Authority's agenda.

According to Cllr McDermott, the issue of changing police boundaries was first suggested by Halton Borough Council last spring, when Merseyside Police informally said it was willing to enter into talks, as did St Helens, Knowsley, Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton councils.

The chief constable of Cheshire also acknowledged the request for a meeting but, says Cllr McDermott, Cheshire Police Authority 'refused' to do so, bringing discussions to a halt.

'The issue is about the Police Authority, not about the police force, which serves Widnes and Runcorn well at present,' said the council leader.

'The work of the chief constable, Peter Fahy, and the divisional commander, Clive Pownall, is exceptional and appreciated.

'The Cheshire Police Authority in the autumn of last year simply refused to entertain any discussion of the matter and that is the problem - one which will continue to surface until the question of governance is resolved.'

He added: 'The Cheshire Police Authority consists of 17 members, only one of whom is from Halton. It can exercise its power over Widnes and Runcorn without challenge - and this is where the problem lies.

'The chair, Peter Nurse, is perhaps unaware of the close part-nership we have with the local police force. Halton's chief executive is co-chair of the Community Safety Partnership and we fund numerous schemes to support the police locally.

'The fact remains that Cheshire Police Authority is likely to remain long after the current police officers have moved on and in the long run there is a question over their responsiveness to people here in Halton.

'If it is not possible, practicable or desirable to change police authorities, then we can accept that.

'What we cannot accept is a refusal to discuss the matter.'