TWO of the region's police forces are to move towards creating a joint firearms unit.

Durham and Cleveland police say that merging their firearms teams would create major savings for both forces, which could be ploughed into front-line policing.

The two forces already share a joint firearms training centre, in Urlay Nook, near Stockton.

At present, Durham and Cleveland each have 100 officers authorised to use firearms, which is considered to be a level comparable to much larger forces, and believed to be excessive for the number of firearm incidents dealt with in the two counties each year.

Durham's Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks, who is leading the project, said: "The creation of a joint unit would be a unique event - the first and only collaborative unit of its type in the country.

"The vision we have is of a fully-autonomous firearms unit that would include not only the dedicated Armed Response Vehicle teams, but also dedicated firearms support units that are self-sufficient and provide a cross section of specialist services."

"It demonstrates that there is willingness on the part of both forces to collaborate and work together for the benefit of all our communities. It will allow us to better respond to critical incidents."

The move comes amid increasing calls for police to routinely arm themselves following the fatal stabbing of an officer in Luton, on Monday.

PC Jon Henry was responding to reports that a window cleaner had been attacked when he was stabbed in a struggle with a knifeman. ACC Banks however rebuffed such calls.

He said: "An unarmed police service is central to what the British understanding of policing is. We train specialists so that we can deploy them to certain incidents which require them to be armed."

A merged firearms unit is expected to cut red tape, create major savings in training and reduce the numbers of officers removed from front-line duties.

The spare training time this would create at Urlay Nook could be sold to other police forces, which would generate an annual income of £500,000, providing the opportunity to reinvest savings and officer time into other protective services to fight serious and organised crime.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Sean Price said: "We believe that closer co-operation between forces to provide specialist services of this kind is the right way forward and can ensure that we effectively meet the demands of modern-day policing."

A joint report on the plans has been given the support of both Durham and Cleveland police authorities and is to be submitted to the Home Office for funding