The roles of the Midlands' four chief constables could no longer exist after 2008 when Government-led plans to reform national policing are introduced.

Warwickshire's Chief Constable John Burbeck yesterday said his job and that of his West Midlands counterpart Paul Scott-Lee would disappear if the two forces were amalgamated.

Mr Burbeck added he would like to see West Mercia and Staffordshire forces join the new arrangement too.

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He confirmed his options, requested last month by Home Secretary Charles Clarke, did not include a continuation of the status quo in Warwickshire.

Mr Burbeck said: "There would be no jobs for us, people like me, our posts are vulnerable in these proposals and that is the case for the chiefs of the other forces and for the heads of departments of support staff.

"A number of key posts will cease to exist."

While the driving force behind the changes is to better combat terrorism and organised crime - both of which Mr Burbeck admitted the force was not equipped to do on its own - he added the Warwickshire proposals "bolted down" the commitment to local policing.

The force will now accelerate a roll-out of local policing teams, including the appointment of more community support officers, to be in place before the new arrangements come into place.

The initial shortlist of options has to be submitted on October 31 with the preferred option to be reported to the Home Secretary by the end of the year.

A final decision is expected next April. "We feel we have been rushed, I cannot deny that," said Mr Blundell.

Last night a Home Office spokeswoman admitted the proposals had to be submitted within a "fairly short time" but said there would be plenty of opportunities for public consultation after December 31.

Joint public consultations with the West Midlands Police Authority are set to begin on November 12 in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry.