THE chief executive of Cheshire police authority says a merger with the Merseyside force is off.
Mark Sellwood told members of the public at a police forum held in Malpas on Monday that inside information suggested the amalgamation would not be going ahead.
The change has come since Dr John Reid took over as Home Secretary from Charles Clarke.
Mr Sellwood said: 'Things over the last week or so have changed significantly. The Home Secretary has now confirmed that the deadline for us responding to questions about the merger has been extended.
'We understand that on Friday, following discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he has decided to postpone indefinitely any mergers.'
Mr Sellwood said the merger due between Lancashire and Cumbria was 'also off '.
He continued: 'We don't really know at the moment. We are waiting for information but it looks as if there won't be any mergers in the near future.
'I think the police service will be given appropriate time to work together with partners to try and identify solutions to some of the problems and we need to look how we can work together in the region more effectively.
'As far as the police authority and the chairman of the police authority is concerned it's good news. Hopefully Cheshire police authority will continue and be around for many years to come.'
Parish councillor Charles Higgie said there was 'a blinkered approach' to collaborations and, as well as cooperating with Merseyside and Manchester police forces, there ought to be more joint working with North Wales, West Mercia and Staffordshire police.
Mr Sellwood said some of the 'most effective' collaborations were with North Wales.
The Times newspaper this week claimed Home Secretary Dr Reid was due to scrap the 'superforce' mergers.
But a Home Office spokesman insisted discussions about police mergers were continuing and Dr Reid was not 'immediately' planning to make an announcement.
