Controversial police mergers must go ahead as quickly as possible, according to a Midland MP.
Adrian Bailey (Lab West Bromwich West) urged Ministers to get on with the reforms.
He was defending plans to create a regional superforce in the West Midlands in a House of Commons debate.
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West Mercia Police is fighting proposals to create a huge super-force by merging the four existing constabularies in the region. Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands Police all support the proposals.
But Conservatives claim the Government is rushing the changes - and council-tax payers will have to pick up a bill of up to £1 billion.
Mr Bailey said the changes were needed to ensure police could cope as criminals became increasingly organised and mobile.
He warned that criminal gangs would be "rubbing their hands with glee over every year of delay that takes place in implementing the proposals".
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that the difficulties facing smaller forces were "stubborn, persistent and serious".
"That is the view of professional policing in this country," he said. "The fact is that present policing structures have shown themselves very much able to deliver in terms of reducing volume crime and providing a good local service.
"Where present structures have failed is in delivering a dynamic, forward-looking and strategic response to the problems of organised criminality, terrorism and nationally mobile criminals."
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, accused Ministers of trying to rush through the biggest shake-up in 40 years.
"You must explain why you have chosen to implement uncosted, unpopular, ineffective and undemocratic reforms with undue haste and inadequate consideration, why you have chosen to spend half a billion pounds to take half a step backwards," he told Mr Clarke.
