NORTH Yorkshire Police might have to merge with another force under plans to bring policing into the 21st century.

Chief constable Della Cannings and chairwoman of North Yorkshire Police Authority Jane Kenyon joined police chiefs from around the country at a meeting with Home Secretary Charles Clarke in London yesterday.

Mr Clarke said policing had to change to meet the challenges of the modern world and that it was inevitable there would be fewer forces in the future.

He was speaking in response to a report published last week by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which found the current 43 forces structure was no longer fit for its purpose.

Coun Kenyon said the force had been given until early next year to come up with proposals.

She said: "North Yorkshire Police and the authority have been engaged in modernisation for the last two to three years and we will be in a good position to embrace the Home Secretary's agenda.

"He's not put any constraints on us and we're going to be looking at our options and seeing what we can do to give the best service."

Coun Kenyon said she did not know which force, if any, North Yorkshire Police would merge with, but promised to consult heavily with neighbouring forces and the public.

She said: "I think modernisation always brings its difficulties, but it's something we need to embrace if we are to make sure that policing is fit for the future and I think we are living in exciting times."

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

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

"As the HMIC report indicates, currently some forces are simply too small to meet these challenges.

"We need strategic forces able to address them effectively and to provide the support which localities need."

He said: "Doing things 43 different ways no longer works and the implication of the HMIC report, which I accept, is that inevitably we will have less forces in the future.

"But with local accountability for tackling crime delivered by neighbourhood policing, bigger, more strategic constabularies will mean we will have forces ready and equipped for policing in the 21st century."

Updated: 10:09 Tuesday, September 20, 2005