TALKS have started over plans for Avon and Somerset police to share some functions with a neighbouring force.

The constabulary and its colleagues in Wiltshire hope to be able to make "significant" savings in the next five years by sharing specialist police resources and support functions.

Major crime and Special Branch units from both forces already collaborate through Operation Brunel and it is anticipated that by building on that success, there will be more efficient and cost effective policing as a result.

In the past four years, both forces have had to find substantial savings. They said although it had not been easy, the targets had been achieved.

They now expect to have to make further savings by 2018-19 but aim to lessen the impact on frontline services through working together even more.

Talks between the Avon and Somerset and the Wiltshire police and crime commissioners (PCCs), together with their chief constables, started in December.

Although still at an early stage, it has already been agreed that specialist police resources, protective services and corporate services will be included in the alliance.

But both forces will keep their commissioners and chief constables and it has been agreed that neighbourhood and response policing will continue to be provided and overseen locally.

Sue Mountstevens, the Avon and Somerset PCC, said: “We’re very optimistic about finding ways of working more closely together in the future.

"We have a good track record with existing collaborations and there are clear benefits for both forces in pursuing further opportunities.”

Wiltshire and Swindon PCC Angus Macpherson said: “It’s important to stress that Wiltshire police and Avon and Somerset police are not merging. Both will retain their own leadership and identity.

"This strategic alliance would look at how we could share more of our resources, such as specialist police resources and office functions. Local policing, which we know is so important to our communities, would continue to be delivered locally in response to communities’ needs.

“Police budgets are in a very challenging state and in the coming years this collaboration would help find the savings that both forces need to make.”