Metro mayor plans are 'greatest threat to local policing' says police commissioner

According to Mrs Mulligan, a series of private meetings took place this week between council executives and leaders about plans to seek greater devolved powers for Yorkshire from the government.

The commissioner said the prospect of local policing being governed by a new mayor for Greater Yorkshire was one of the issues discussed.

Mrs Mulligan said this could involve the merger of four forces including all or parts of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Humberside and South Yorkshire police.

Commenting on the plans, which are understood to be in their early stages, Mrs Mulligan said: "If these plans go ahead, there is little doubt that North Yorkshire's communities would suffer as a result.

"Regardless of whether or not the final solution results in a full scale merger, we would inevitably be pitched alongside other areas in South and West Yorkshire with far greater demand and challenges than here in North Yorkshire, one of the safest counties in England.

"The police decide where to send resources based on 'threat, risk and harm', meaning that there is every likelihood that we would see cash-strapped forces such as West Yorkshire suck up our resources.

"This is particularly galling as in North Yorkshire we pay much more for our local police than they do in the rest of the region, meaning that our residents could end up subsidising crime in distant parts of the area. I am particularly concerned about our rural communities where police officers already have to cover large geographical areas.”

George Osborne wants to see so-called metro mayors rule England's biggest cities.

The Chancellor has promised ‘Boris Johnson-style’ powers and freedoms to any city which adopts “a single leader who can speak for the whole area”.

North-East leaders have so-far held out against the demand, but council chiefs in parts of Yorkshire have agreed to consult local people.

Mrs Mulligan said the public's views needed to be taken into consideration.

She added: "Discussions behind closed doors take us back to the dark ages of unaccountable decision-making.

"I have written to every MP, council leader and chief executive in North Yorkshire and the City of York urging them to consider the implications for North Yorkshire Police and to involve police leaders in the discussion."

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said meetings had taken place with other council leaders about how the devolution process might progress.

However, he added that policing had not been discussed and he had told the commissioner this.

"I'm disappointed that she used the terms 'secret meetings' and 'behind closed doors'. Doesn't she have private meetings with other commissioners? I do hope so rather than working in isolation."