Essex's Police and Crime Commissioner has warned that Essex Police may have to merge with other forces to deal with further budget cuts.

Nick Alston, who was elected in 2012 and announced last week that he will not stand for re-election when his term ends next year, said it could be time for crime commissioners and chief constables to consider merging some forces as part of a wider modernisation programme.

Speaking in his role as chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, he said he accepted that the move would be a “hard sell” to members of the public who value the idea of a local constabulary.

He also admitted that a merger would not suit all forces, including Essex Police.

He said: "Are mergers the answer to the austerity problem? Almost certainly not, it's not necessarily going to save lots of money in all cases. But is there a case in some forces? Almost certainly yes.

"We are already seeing deeper and deeper collaborations and I can imagine a future where, for some, that reaches its natural conclusion.

"It's not always going to be popular with the public but, if the public don't want it, we have to get out and have that debate in public and explain the reasoning.

“Ultimately we will get there."

The debate over police mergers has grown in recent years, including when the Government rejected calls from Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, for the culling of more than 30 forces in England and Wales to create nine super-forces.

Essex Police already operates a joint Procurement Services unit with neighbouring Kent Police, which puts contracts in place for services at both forces, including uniforms and printing.

In 2011, the forces also jointly set up the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, which provides enhanced resources to tackle those involved in serious criminality in the South and East of England.

Mr Alston used the example of how Essex Police works with Kent on key areas including major investigations as a way of how collaboration can save money without going down the road of full mergers.