Police Authority leaders have called on the Government to listen to local people's views on police force structures during an Association of Police Authorities conference in Belfast.

Delegates at the conference - attended by Police Authorities nationwide - heard calls for the consultation process to be extended to give sufficient time for local communities to engage in the debate about the future of their forces.

Bob Jones, APA Chairman said: "The Government must give partners and stakeholders an opportunity to influence the decision-making process; and allow for a full democratic parliamentary debate. We also want to know who will foot the bill? We are confident the Home Secretary will want to listen to and act on the concerns which Police Authority members have quite legitimately expressed today."

"We are pleased that the Home Secretary has already agreed to the APA's request to relax the deadline for the next stage of the Police Structure Review submissions, which gave only 3 weeks to consult communities and has said he is willing to consider all options put forward in December."

The conference continues on Thursday 24 November when Hazel Blears will address delegates.