MERGING Kent police with another force would cost the taxpayer a staggering £91million, says the county’s top policeman.

Chief Constable Mike Fuller says that almost a quarter of that sum would have to go on new computer technology, needed because existing forces used different IT systems.

The startling revelation came as the Chief Constable briefed county councillors at a meeting of KCC’s cabinet.

Mr Fuller, who is pressing the Government to maintain Kent as a “stand alone” police force, said: “Any merger would start with very high [re-organisation] costs.

"We are looking at £91million to merge with another force, with IT mergers costing about £21million. We would have to borrow that money to support a merger and I cannot see any benefits for people of Kent,” he said.

He emphasised that Kent had a strong case for retaining its status as a single force and hinted the Home Office was listening sympathetically.

“I have submitted a case which was positively received by the Home Office. We meet the thresholds in staff numbers that have been set and with the increase in population in Kent’s growth areas, police numbers will increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has denied rushing through a shake-up that could see Kent Police merge with neighbouring forces in Sussex and Surrey.

He insisted he would be happy to “look again” if it could be shown mergers would cut frontline funding.

Speaking to regional newspaper political editors at a Newspaper Society lunch in London he said: “My objective is to deliver what will be the most effective policing system in the country and I am guided by the police.

"If it was argued that we were taking away resources from local community policing, I would look again at where we are.”

But he qualified that pledge by hinting that he would not shy away from using his powers as Home Secretary.

“If there is a consensus in a particular area that says 'we all think this is the shape things should be’, then I will say go ahead. If there is no consensus and no agreement, I then have to decide what to do.”

Thanet North Conservative MP Roger Gale said the government was rushing headlong into a shake-up without giving time for a proper debate.