Police officer numbers will increase and PCSO numbers will remain static in Devon and Cornwall – but only if you pay for them.

That is the message that the police and crime panel will today be told at a meeting that will also discuss the potential of a full merger with Dorset.

 Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez will tell the panel that she will only support the merger of the forces if the public are behind it and there is a clear business case to make the change.

And the meeting will also hear about plans to increase police officer numbers and hold police community support officer numbers at 200 by 2020 as Ms Hernandez will outline proposals to build upon an initiative that has seen communities pay for extra PCSOs.

She said: “I am pleased that the Chief Constable has listened to the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and that the new neighbourhood policing model supports the key priority in the Police and Crime Plan – for the police and the communities they serve to be better connected.

“In designing the new model I know the Force has received a significant level of feedback from partners and the wider public. So the decision to hold the total number of PCSOs across Devon and Cornwall at 200 by 2020, rather than the previously planned 150 by 2021, is welcome.

“I am also keen to support innovative new ways of funding PCSOs. They can play a vital role in the community policing mix.

“In January 70 per cent of over 4,000 people who took part in a poll said they supported paying an average of £12 a year through their council tax to pay for policing.

“This added an additional £7.2 million to the police budget and allowed the chief constable more flexibility when designing this new model.

“I look forward to seeing local plans as to where those PCSOs and the additional blue light officers will be deployed.”

In September 2017, the Chief Constables of Devon and Cornwall and Dorset Police announced their intentions to explore further collaboration and closer working between the two forces. These plans are supported by the two Police and Crime Commissioners, and a report prepared for the panel says: “The collective view is that it is right to explore whether a full merger between the two forces will bring additional benefits above and beyond those that can be achieved through collaboration.”

On the proposed merger, Alison said: “There is a shared view from the chief constables that a merger of the two forces offers the best long-term solution for all parties.

“However, in considering the future it is important that we understand the community impact of any decisions in this area. I will not support a merger unless it is in the best interests of the people of Devon and Cornwall.”

She is urging members of the public to carefully consider the implications of a merger and take part in a major engagement exercise that will open this month and run across the summer.

Residents of the three counties will be asked whether they support changes which create one force that would stretch from Bournemouth to the Isles of Scilly.

Already an alliance between the two constabularies sees joint work across 19 functions and has resulted in more money for frontline policing.

The precept levied on households to pay for policing is currently £18 lower in Devon and Cornwall than in Dorset, and a formal coming together would change this over time.

A report to the panel today says that the first step in this exploratory work is the development of an outline business case to understand what the potential costs and benefits might be of any merger.

Any full business case will need to be submitted to the Home Office by October 12, 2018, for consideration and order must be paid by Parliament by November 7, 2019, in order for it to be completed in time for the 2020 elections.

Questionnaires will be available online and at dozens of events such as district shows as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner seeks to garner public opinion on the changes. OPCC staff will be available to answer questions and to help people understand and have their say on the proposals.