HERTFORDSHIRE Constabulary has formally joined up with neighbouring forces in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in a bid to save millions of pounds.

Police chiefs have signed up to a strategic framework agreement which sets out how forces can work together to build greater efficiency and effectiveness of their service while also saving money.

It is hoped the alliance, which could see units merged or run jointly, will bring savings of up to �20m a year by the end of 2015.

The three-force programme is building on the success of a collaboration between Herts and Beds, which has seen 13 joint units developed since 2007.

However, there are no plans for a full and formal merger between the three forces.

Hertfordshire’s acting chief constable Heather Valentine said: “We have already proved in our work with Bedfordshire that collaboration brings more than just financial benefits, it brings resilience and the meshing together of innovation, best practice and new ideas for all forces involved.”

David Lloyd, newly-appointed chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority, added: “We believe our strategic alliance with Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire will enable us to find significant efficiencies providing the resources to deliver a good policing service to our communities.

“We ensure that every decision as to whether to establish a joint venture is considered very carefully, and only when we are satisfied a joint venture represents the best way forward for the people of Hertfordshire do we give our approval.”