Police operations in Wycombe and the Chilterns are set to merge into one new local policing area starting from today (Monday).

The new South Buckinghamshire local policing area (LPA) has been formed by bringing together the Wycombe and Chiltern and South Bucks regions.

This "streamlining" will not see a reduction in frontline staff or any closures to police stations in the area, but will result in a reduction in senior staff.

Thames Valley Police says the change is to bring its services more in line with the unitary authority structure adopted by the new Buckinghamshire Council.

The former Wycombe LPA covered High Wycombe, Marlow and Princes Risborough, while Chiltern and South Bucks covered Chesham, Amersham, Beaconsfield, all the way down to Burnham and Langley.

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Bucks Free Press: The local policing areas of Wycombe (6) and Chiltern and South Bucks (7) have merged into the South Buckinghamshire local policing areaThe local policing areas of Wycombe (6) and Chiltern and South Bucks (7) have merged into the South Buckinghamshire local policing area

There are now 11 LPAs covered by Thames Valley Police, and three within Buckinghamshire. The other two in the county are Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes.

Superintendent Emma Burroughs, former area commander for Wycombe, takes over as area commander for the newly-formed South Buckinghamshire LPA.

Supt Burroughs said: "Since Buckinghamshire Council’s move to become a unitary authority, it became clear that a structure that is more aligned to theirs will help us to maximise the important community safety partnership with them.

“However, this also provides us with a great opportunity for the two former LPAs to become a single, more streamlined and more effective organisation. The two LPAs have always worked very closely together, but this move will consolidate that position and allow us to more effectively serve our communities.

“Plans for this change have been underway for a number of months and our local communities will not see a change in officers patrolling their local areas or responding to incidents.

“This new move also improves our work with partner agencies and provides greater flexibility, putting us in a good position to meet future challenges as the environment in which we police continues to change.”