Police chiefs are considering merging Sussex Police with up to four forces to better combat terrorism and organised crime.

The county's police authority yesterday discussed five possible ways of filling gaps in police provision.

Top of the list was the creation of a mega-force covering Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire and Thames Valley.

Four alternative proposals would lead to Sussex merging with a combination of neighbouring forces. The simplest plan would see Sussex join with Surrey.

All options will be sent to the Government by the end of the month as part of a review of the current structure of police forces in England and Wales.

They will then be subjected to detailed analysis and consultation before a preferred option is agreed and submitted to the Home Office by December 23.

Last month a report by police watchdog Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary concluded: "The 43-force structure is no longer fit for purpose".

The Government wants to merge forces to close gaps currently believed to exist in the tackling of terrorism, organised crime and cross-border crime.

It is hoped the restructuring will also lead to cost savings by the pooling of services.

Ken Jones, chief constable of Sussex Police, disputed the idea his force is too small to do its job but accepted that change was inevitable.

He said: "The conclusion that forces need to have 4,000 or more police officers to have sufficient protective services capability needs to be challenged. We currently have 3,100 officers in Sussex, but extensive experience of dealing with counter-terrorism, airport security and protection of national political conferences, to name only three.

"However, it is clear that the Government is intent on change and this provides a unique opportunity for the leaders of the service and police authorities to take a long-term view of policing and design a structure that will be fit for purpose in Sussex and the South-East for the next 20 to 30 years. In selecting a preferred option,at its meeting in December the authority will need to be satisfied ... that the new structure will produce real improvements in the policing of Sussex and value for money."

Sussex Police Authority chairman Peter Jones said: "Some reorganisation may indeed be necessary, but what form this takes should depend on local circumstances and take into account the views of local people."