The creation of a police "super force" in North-east England was thrown into doubt yesterday after two chief constables proposed to "go it alone".
The Home Office has backed a preferred plan to merge the Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland forces.
But Cleveland is resisting the proposal in favour of a smaller merger with Durham to create a Tees Valley force.
Now the chief constables of Northumbria and Durham said they might go it alone "for the benefit of policing".
The decision casts doubt over the future of Cleveland Police - one of the smallest areas in the country.
A statement issued on behalf of the Northumbria and Durham forces said: "The Northumbria and Durham forces and their police authorities are aware Cleveland Police Authority remains opposed to the option of a single regional force.
"Under these circumstances, and in order to make progress for the benefit of policing services in the area, Northumbria and Durham's chief constables and their police authorities have indicated to the Home Secretary that they would be willing to explore a merger of Northumbria and Durham forces, but only as part of a staged process leading to a larger regional force in the future."
Northumbria's Chief Constable Mike Craik said: "We believe a single strategic force is the right way to develop a police service able to cope with current and future demands."
Jon Stoddart, Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, said: "Amalgamation is the only way to increase the level of all services we deliver to the people of the North East.
"Without a strategic force I believe neighbour-hood policing would suffer. Through an amalgamation, resources could be freed up to safeguard both the policing of our communities and our fight against serious and organised crime."
Councillor Dave McLuckie, chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, said the announcement showed that "in reality the idea of a single regional force for the North East is a dead duck - and will remain so for the foreseeable future."
He added: "Whatever spin others try to put on this development, the reality is that it is a vindication for the position which the Cleveland authority and force have taken throughout the debate over police structuring - a position overwhelming supported by the public - that a single massive regional force is not the right way forward." ..SUPL:
