TWO Gwent police divisions will merge in a £200,000 'balancing act' - despite fears the decision will lead to a fall in standards.

Caerphilly and Ebbw Vale police divisions will merge the 470 officers, 300 in Caerphilly and 170 in Ebbw Vale, spread across the new division, which will have its headquarters in Blackwood.

The move will save £200,000, much of which will come from not having to bring E division up to standard.

Instead the cash will pay for three new police officers, and the creation of new posts including a crime and disorder inspector and a domestic violence officer. Gwent's assistant chief constable, Bill Horne, said: "This change is intended to bring about improved resilience and performance, a more balanced distribution of resources, a leaner support structure and the saving of some £200,000 which will be diverted to operational policing."

And George Appleby, of the Gwent Police Federation, added: "The decision has been made; it is now time for everybody, including the public and politicians, to support it fully to ensure the objective is achieved - that is, better policing for the community at lower cost." But Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent councils were unanimous in condemning the move.

John Hopkins, (pictured) leader of Blaenau Gwent council, said it could cause detection rates to fall in the area.

He said: "At present Blaenau Gwent has a higher detection rate than in Caerphilly but I fear the plan to merge the divisions and install a headquarters in Blackwood could lead to standards rising in Caerphilly at the expense of our county."

And Caerphilly's deputy leader, Allan Pritchard, said the merger was a "bitter disappointment".

He added: "We were unanimous in our opinion that this merger was not the way forward for the county borough." There is no intention to close or merge any of the ten sectional stations - six in Caerphilly, four in Blaenau Gwent - although the posts of superintendent and chief inspector at Ebbw Vale will disappear and it will become a sectional station with one or both posts based in Blackwood.

It would cost £96,000 to bring staffing and building work in E division up to par, but £216,000 will be saved if it is merged with C division.