Prime Minster Tony Blair has said the planned mergers of police forces including Lancashire with Cumbria are not off the agenda'.
Mr Blair, speaking in the House of Commons and answering a question put to him by Tory leader David Cameron, said he had not wasted police time planning the mergers.
The Prime Minister also admitted it was important to proceed with mergers where possible.
The local merger was called off this week because of a problem with council tax levels in the two areas.
But David Cameron said: "The flagship of forced mergers has sunk without trace."
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