CHIEF Constable Richard Brunstrom has joined MPs to speak out against plans to merge Welsh police forces.

In a report published by the Government's Welsh Affairs Committee Mr Brunstrom says: 'The proposals made by the Home Office do not take sufficient account of the transport, geography and social consequences of the transport infrastructure and geography in Wales.'

The plans, which claim to make it easier for Wales to deal with terrorism and cross-border (or Level Two) crime, are expected to be imposed this week after North Wales, Gwent, Dyfed-Powys and South Wales police authorities failed to agree on a voluntary merger.

Mr Clarke and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain asked police authorities to voluntarily accept the merger but all four refused to support the plan before the deadline last Friday, meaning Mr Clarke will force it throught.

Now the Welsh Affairs Committee, of which Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones is a member, has voiced its concerns after speaking with police authorities and Chief Constables in Wales.

'I hope that following the publication of this report that Home Secretary Charles Clarke will take notice of the very real concerns we have in North Wales about the all-Wales police force proposal,' said Mr Jones.

Mr Brunstrom said he valued North Wales Police's relationship with Cheshire more than a merger of Welsh forces.

'We have a very close and growing operational relation-ship with Cheshire Police, as we need to,' he said.

'Our criminal market in North Wales is entirely east-west and we have a completely shared surveillance team commanded by a Cheshire officer but jointly working for the two forces.'

The detailed Welsh Affairs report concludes that there are real concerns over the way the Home Office has formulated its plans in relation to North Wales.

'We are concerned that legitimate and genuine issues raised with regard to the nature of crime flows, transport structures, the identity and geography of North Wales have not yet been adequately addressed by Government,' it said.

'Furthermore, it has not yet convinced us that an all-Wales police force will either complement or replace the well-developed relationship that has been developed between North Wales and Cheshire forces.'

Chirk councillor and chairman of North Wales Police Authority Ian Roberts said: 'We are expecting a letter this week informing us that the process to force a merger is under way.

'There is now a four-month objection period in which people must make their views known by writing letters to the Home Office, to MPs, to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

'Those who are against these half-baked plans need to make their voices heard now or we will be left with a police force administered from Cardiff with resources that are too far stretched.'