The cost of merging the Dutch regional forces into a single national force will cost an additional €250m to €300m, according to a confidential report cited by RTL news.

The report was drawn up by accountants group PWC for justice minister Ard van der Steur, sources told the broadcaster.

The budget has already been topped up to the tune of €230m. The new cash is needed to ensure ‘the police are up to strength and do what is being demanded of them’, the broadcaster says.

Van der Steur is still in discussions with finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem about where the cash should come from. The extra spending does not include an estimated €150m needed to cope with the flow of refugees to the Netherlands, RTL says.