PLANNED police force reforms are unsuitable for Wales, say Gwent Assembly Members.

Politicians agreed merger plans for Welsh forces could result in a system unable to deal with Gwent-specific issues, and described Wales as a "special case" needing a different policy from English forces.

Their comments come as the South Wales Argus launches its campaign to stop the merger going ahead.

Our 'Hands off our police force' campaign aims to keep the Gwent force individual, local and therefore accountable to people living in Gwent. Michael German, AM for South Wales East, said: "There should be a special case for Wales. How can a force covering such huge areas, with challenging geography, provide effective community policing?

"Perhaps Wales-wide specialist branches for major crimes and terrorism would work, but the bulk of policing is done at a community level. It seems to me we shouldn't break a structure which is working well, for one small part of policing that needs to see change."

South Wales East Assembly Member William Graham said: "We all understand that a need to respond to terrorist pressure is driving this reorganisation forward, but this may be a flawed proposal when applied specifically to Wales. Wales has several distinct areas that require different, yet specific service provision. Our police forces need to retain a definite link at local level with the communities they serve.

"Plus, the Assembly provides half the money for forces in Wales. Policy should not be dictated from one half to the other. We need to find our own solution."

John Griffiths, AM for Newport East, agreed Wales needed different treatment.

He said: "There are geographical, historical and governmental differences in Wales which mean it is very much a special case.

"Forces in North Wales tend to work more with forces in England anyway, because that is where a great deal of their organised crime comes from. "There is a lot of work to be done before it can be decided what's best for Wales, but forces here tend to co-operate when they need to already." David Davies, AM for Monmouthshire, said the policy is unsuitable for places other than Wales.

He said: "We don't necessarily need a different policy - we just need one that works.

"We need small local forces that are more responsive. We are moving in the wrong direction at the moment."