MONMOUTH MP David Davies says the true cost of merging Wales' four police forces will be hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mr Davies spoke out after discussing the controversial scheme with the Chief Constable of Gwent Police and other top officials on Friday.

"Obviously I asked about the costs, as I have been doing for several months, and I was told that the initial set up cost would be £80 million," he said.

"This price tag includes the cost of merging IT systems and dealing with staff issues, as well as a variety of other matters.

"Of course, we already knew there would be a start up cost, but I had no idea it would be this large. I thought it would be in the region of £15 million.

"Up until now, I have been told that the merger will result in savings year on year because of increased efficiency, but this is not the cost at all.

"In fact, the true cost will rise to £48 million per annum over the next seven years.

"This means we will be spending millions of pounds for a police service that is no better than the one we currently have, but will satisfy the Home Secretary's plans for large police forces across the UK."

Mr Davies said the money would be better put to use by increasing the number of bobbies on the beat and employing more detectives to deal with specialist crime.

"I have also called in part for a relatively small sum of money - £1,000 as a 'bounty' - to be made to special constables," he said.

"It could be the case that for £100,000 a year, Gwent Police could be given 100 special constables to support officers when needed.

"However, I have been told there is no money for this, yet hundreds of millions of pounds will be spent on a ludicrous bureaucratic merger. It is absolute madness."

The government is insisting on a shake-up of police forces in England and Wales, saying 'superforces' are needed to cope with the threats of terrorism and organised crime.