REFORMING large public sector organisations rarely comes cheap, whether it is local councils, the NHS or, as in this case, police forces.

If proposals to end the days of Kent police being a stand-alone force go ahead, merger would carry a hefty price tag.

According to the force’s financial chiefs, the costs of amalgamation could leave taxpayers in the South East picking up a bill for about £60million – ironically, just about the same amount Kent taxpayers currently contribute via council tax towards the force’s yearly budget of £340million.

Of course, that extra £60million would not have to be paid in one year. It would be spread over 10 years or so and across all forces affected by any merger. But police chiefs say it would still present a major financial headache.

Every one per cent extra on the police share of the council tax generates about £700,000. In crude terms, if Kent police was forced to raise an additional £6million from taxpayers each year, it would translate as an 8.5 per cent increase on our bills.

So, why would merger be so costly? And would it exceed any savings the Government says could be expected in the longer-term, for example, by selling redundant office accommodation?

According to Kent police, the largest chunk of the money – £26million – would be swallowed up by the need to invest in new computer systems. Each force operates different systems and the lack of compatibility would mean a merged force would need an entirely new system.

Merger might also mean having to spend £13.7million on buildings and office accommodation, although some of that might be offset by selling unwanted buildings. Meanwhile, re-organising staff into a new force could cost £15.4million – including the likelihood of redundancy costs.

A smaller sum of about £3million would have to be spent on supplies and services.

Kent police, along with all other forces, has been told that the Home Office is unlikely to meet the bulk of reorganisation costs. As a result, forces would be obliged to borrow the money and, as with all loans, incur interest charges.

There would, in time, be savings of about £13.4million a year but they would be overshadowed by the ongoing costs – estimated to be about £21.4million.