West Yorkshire Police Authority today vowed to stand firm on its decision to snub a multi-million pound radio project - despite a Home Office ultimatum to sign up or face a future cash crisis.

Details of the new Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) have been unveiled by Home Secretary Jack Straw, even though four forces are still not backing the scheme.

The project, involving a deal with BT, will standardise digital radio equipment across all forces and would cost West Yorkshire Police around £7 million. The county's Police Authority says it would have to axe more than 400 officers to pay for the project and is not prepared to make that sacrifice.

But the Home Secretary has issued a statement saying he expects all police authorities to sign up before the end of the month.

He added it would be extremely hard for forces like West Yorkshire to get a better deal anywhere else when the existing analogue radio frequencies became defunct in 2004.

West Yorkshire Police Authority Chairman Councillor Neil Taggart said today that Mr Straw's comments were misleading.

He said: "We are not going to be in a position to sign anything. We are taking legal advice and I am ready to call an emergency meeting of the Authority to discuss the situation if needed.

"It's all very well for the Home Secretary to say this will happen, but the fact is it is our responsibility to decide - unless of course Mr Straw uses his powers to impose a decision as a last resort."

The Government is making £50 million available for the project, but it is likely to cost £2 billion. Coun Taggart said: "It's difficult to do a value-for-money comparison because this was a single bidder. It may be that we can get a better deal elsewhere."

As well as linking all forces, the radios will eventually have a display panel allowing officers to see photographs, maps and criminal records.

Cleveland, West Midlands and Merseyside have joined West Yorkshire in refusing to sign up. Those which do not will still require a new radio system by the end of 2004 because of changes to frequencies.

The Association of Police Authorities has warned that without new money, some authorities will have no choice but to reduce staff to fund the new system.

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