TWO police forces have been ordered to postpone a ‘divorce’ over shared operations after a watchdog weighed into the row.

West Mercia Police, whose area includes south Herefordshire, and Warwickshire Police have engaged in a war of words over the ending of a seven-year deal to share services, which was supposed to take place yesterday (Tuesday, October 8).

But Home Secretary Priti Patel has now ordered them to postpone the move for six months ‘to prevent a risk to the public’.

HM Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, said last week that West Mercia’s move to end its seven-year alliance with Warwickshire “does not appear to have been based on a well-evidenced business case”.

The forces have shared operations such as information and communications technology, firearms, forensics and human resources since 2012.

But West Mercia, has wants to pull the plug, saying it can provide the public with better value for money by operating alone.

Warwickshire has hit back, claiming the alliance has saved more than £35m, and is “hugely disappointed” by the move.

Ms Williams also criticised the lack of public consultation over the split.

And with 80 per cent of the shared services based in the West Mercia area, she said there was “no certainty” Warwickshire would be able to reinstate them.

West Mercia Chief Constable Anthony Bangham hit back at the inspection carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, which also said his force ‘requires improvement’ to its effectiveness in reducing crime and keeping people safe, operating efficiently and providing sustainable services, and the way it treats the public and its workforce.

He said last week the findings were out of date, and added: “We are in a fundamentally different place from when the inspection was carried out.”

In a joint statement Ch Con Bangham and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “From a West Mercia Police perspective we are confident in the plans we have in place and there is absolutely no risk to public safety for the communities served by our force.

“West Mercia is fully prepared to operate as a standalone force.

“In fact, we are anticipating significant improvements in service effectiveness and efficiency as a result of not financially supporting a neighbouring force.

“We have made repeated reasonable offers for new collaborations which would address service concerns identified by Warwickshire.

“To date these offers have all been declined.

“It is wholly for Warwickshire’s Chief Constable and PCC to decide whether they accept new collaboration offers.”