CHESHIRE police authority is refusing to back Government-imposed plans for a merger with Merseyside.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke wants to restructure the police service in England and Wales, arguing some forces are too small to tackle serious criminality and terrorism.
On Monday, Chief Constable Peter Fahy and authority chairman Peter Nurse met Mr Clarke to hear what he had planned for the county.
Cheshire had been consulted during a short time frame but had refused to put forward a preferred model in line with the policy of the Association of Police Authorities.
Cllr Nurse said after the meeting: 'I am extremely disappointed with the Home Secretary's decision that the only option for the future of policing in Cheshire is a merger with Merseyside.
'We have made clear in our submissions this option will in no way fill the gap identified by the Home Secretary's officials in tackling terrorism and serious and organised crime.
'We have been given no answers to the questions we asked about how the merger will be funded, what will be the impact on our Council Taxpayers and how will the service be accountable to our local communities.
'We have been given another ridiculously short period of time to reach a decision on this matter. The Home Secretary has asked for our decision by February 24.'
The Cheshire police authority's preference would have been to retain the Cheshire Constabulary within a North West federation involving Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria forces.
But this option was ruled out by the Government.
Cllr Nurse said more information was needed about the composition of the authority that might govern a Cheshire-Merseyside force given the concern Liverpool would end up with the lion's share of resources.
