The number of police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should be slashed to help tackle terrorism and organised crime, a senior officer has said.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, has called for radical reforms of the 44 forces to create larger regional units.

The proposals could see the number of forces cut to as few as nine, he told The Times newspaper.

Less radical measures expected to come from Government, involving voluntary mergers and local collaboration were a "second-best solution", he said.

He criticised the lack of political leadership over the issue, saying: "There is no political enthusiasm whatsoever to even raise this at a discussion level."

In an interview he pointed out that the last wholesale review of policing took place more than 40 years ago.

Sir Hugh, who was Chief Constable of Northern Ireland before taking on the Acpo role said: "The last Royal Commission sat in 1962. In 1962 international terrorism wasn't there, the Northern Ireland Troubles weren't there, I don't think Dixon of Dock Green was there - the world was a very different place.

"Logic suggests now might be a good time to ask if the structure is fit for purpose. We need an independent, thoughtful, but not long-winded review of what is the best structure to deal with the current threats facing the UK at every level."

Plans for police force mergers that would have seen 17 larger police regions were proposed by then Home Secretary Charles Clarke in 2005.

But the plans were scrapped a year later following widespread opposition from the forces involved.