MORE time is needed before making a decision on the best option for a Wales police merger, Newport council agreed unanimously yesterday. Newport councillors said they needed extra time, more consultation and more discussion of all the options before backing any proposal for a single Welsh force.

A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constab-ulary said smaller forces like Gwent will struggle to meet the demands of modern policing, such as terrorism.

And Home Secretary Charles Clarke says he favours an all-Wales force. An Argus campaign demanding "hands off our police force" has won wide backing from th

Councillor Bob Bright, leader of the council, wrote to Mr Clarke on behalf of the authority in December asking for more time to consult.

This was after Newport city councillors received a presentation from the deputy chief constable of South Wales and Mike Tonge, the chief constable of Gwent, about the proposed restructuring.

Yesterday Councillor Bright said: "There is concern about the timescale and regarding the way the matter was handled. There clearly needs to be some reorganisation. But we need to cherish and nurture local policing concepts." Matthew Evans, leader of the opposition, added: "So far there has been no proper consultation, it has been an ultimatum.

"We don't know how much reorganisation would cost, with figures of between £47 and £57 million being at best guesstimates. "You can't consult if you haven't been given all the options."

The council wants to be involved in full discussions of the merger, including details of cost and future governance arrangements. It also wants to guarantee any future restructuring will not impact adversely on neighbourhood policing and that the cost of a merger will be met by central government.