DORSET Police spent £220,400 on the aborted plans to merge police forces, the force has confirmed.

Dorset - which opposed the merger with other forces in the region - spent the sum in preparation for the creation of a regional "superforce" in plans introduced by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

But the plans were later shelved, following condemnation of the proposals from a number of forces and police authorities.

Now, Dorset Police is planning to put in a claim for costs to the Home Office.

Police federation chairman Clive Chamberlain blamed the expenditure on Mr Clarke.

"Charles Clarke wasn't prepared to listen when people said it was going to cost millions," he said.

"An awful lot has been spent in terms of money, and in terms of time that people have had to put into looking at what would happen if we did merge.

"It's phenomenal.

"What we should be doing is keeping Dorset safe rather than wasting time and energy on a very expensive idea which they were told right from the beginning wasn't going to work."

He praised current Home Secretary John Reid for "having the courage of his convictions" to call off the plans, and said the money should be returned to local policing.

A breakdown of Dorset's costs shows £194,600 was spent on staff time, £10,000 on public consultation, £8,310 on other consultation and £7,490 on miscellaneous costs, including accommodation.

Nationally, each of the 43 forces in England and Wales spent an average of £268,668 on the plan - a projected total of £11.5 million.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the forces would receive some reimbursement for costs incurred.

On the £11.5 million figure, she added: "We cannot say with confidence that this estimate is correct.

"We are now in discussion with the police forces and authorities to consider what might be the best way to bring about improvements in protective services."

The amalgamation plans introduced by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke would have seen the 43 existing forces slashed to as few as 17.