I write in response to a letter published about the proposed merger of Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police being flawed.

Paul Hornby, from Dart­ington raises concerns about finances and our engagement with the public which I would like to answer.

I accepted the outline business case for the proposed merger earlier this year because it felt right to explore some aspects further – we don’t know what future funding for policing will look like so we have to adapt and find ways deliver the best policing service possible to our communities. This may or may not be in merging our two forces.

Let me be absolutely clear that no decision has yet been made. I am working with Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, and our equivalents in Dorset, to answer some key questions - does it financially make sense to merge, does it feel right to merge and will it better serve our communities if we merge?

If we can’t answer yes to all these questions then I simply cannot support a merger going ahead.

I am aware of the time and effort that can go into making a merger work and this is one of my considerations in the decision. I need to be sure that a merger will deliver more officers and a better service to our communities before I will support it. Engagement from the public will form a key part of my decision. In his letter, Mr Hornby says that no meaningful engagement has been done and this is just not true.

The public survey launched at the end of June and continues until the end of August. In this time, my team and I are at nearly 30 community events, shows and groups talking to people about the proposition, discussing advantages and disadvantages and collecting their views in a formal survey.

We are also conducting surveys with members of the public online and over the phone the results of which will go to the Home Office in the autumn as part of the full business case if we choose to proceed. To me this is certainly not meaningless

There is still time to complete the survey at www.future policing.co.uk which is not closed as suggested in the letter. If you are not online, a paper copy can be sent to you with a return envelope, please ring the office on 01392 225555 to request one.

I am really keen to hear from as many people as possible and greatly appreciate the time taken to share your views.

Alison Hernandez

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly