HOME Secretary Charles Clarke last night confirmed he will press ahead with plans to cut the number of police forces in England and Wales.

At a meeting of chief constables in London, he backed a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) calling for the biggest policing shake-up for more than 30 years.

Some of the existing 43 police forces will be merged into massive "strategic forces" in a bid to create a force fit for the 21st Century.

This could place smaller forces, such as Durham and Cleveland, under threat, although opponents have already indicated they would challenge any merger.

Mr Clarke said: "It is clear that policing needs to change to meet the challenges of the modern world.

"The threats we face today from terrorism, international drug and people traffickers and financial crime gangs need police forces that have the resources and capabilities to match the criminals.

"Currently, some forces are simply too small to meet these challenges."

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar, said he would campaign vociferously against any plans to merge the Cleveland force.

He said: "It is not the time for Cleveland. Those in charge are doing an excellent job and I am very happy with the progress which is being made."

Dave McLuckie, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said: "We have 1,704 officers, so we are in the front line for merging, but we have very different policing needs to those of our neighbours; we have a big urban dimension, a very busy port and a rural area, so we have three very distinct methods of policing.

"To merge us with other areas that have different policing needs - I am very concerned about that."

Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price said: "We share the concerns expressed by the chairman and will together look at all of the relevant issues."