Dyfed-Powys Police's new chief constable believes Wales' four police forces should be unified and work as a single nationwide force. Former Cleveland Police boss Dr Richard Lewis says this should be in place by 2030, with the four police forces becoming one by that time.
The BBC reports the police chief saying: "(If) the Americans can put a man on the moon in eight years, I think we can unify four police services. Doing away with those borders means we can provide a more effective service."
The Home Office said the existing structure meant everyone had a direct say on policing in their area. However, Dr Lewis said merging forces into Heddlu Cymru, Welsh for Police Wales, would be more effective.
It would make the force the third largest in England and Wales, behind the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police. Carmarthenshire-born Dr Lewis said: "One chief constable rather than four, one deputy chief constable, dare I say one commissioner instead of four."
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He added: "What policing needs across the country is further investment. We've seen the Government uplift figure of 20,000 officers; I'd like to see something similar for police staff members as well."
Dr Lewis said he recognised concerns that resources could be concentrated on towns and cities under one force. But he believes that could be dealt with by creating "shadow structures" to ensure officers working in rural areas remained there.
In Scotland, eight forces merged to form Police Scotland in 2013, and the force has faced problems. Chief Constable Lewis said: "Police Scotland had a difficult start but I think they're now seeing the benefits of having one national service in Scotland.
"We can learn the lessons, of course, from those early days in Scotland. My concern is around the way we structure our policing services in Wales."
South Wales Police and Gwent Police declined to comment on Dr Lewis's views. North Wales Police has been asked to comment.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The existing police force structure in Wales ensures everyone has a direct say on policing in their area through their locally elected and accountable police and crime commissioner. Chief constables and police and crime commissioners collaborate with other forces on a wide range of functions to improve the service they provide to the public."
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