diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index c38018f71..94ece85ab 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -417,9 +417,14 @@ The following methods are supported:
   - The ordering of the merged document is determined by the list of IDs.
   - Optional `parameters`:
     - `"metadata_document_id": DOC_ID` apply metadata (tags, correspondent, etc.) from this document to the merged document.
+    - `"delete_originals": true` to delete the original documents. This requires the calling user being the owner of
+      all documents that are merged.
 - `split`
   - Requires `parameters`:
     - `"pages": [..]` The list should be a list of pages and/or a ranges, separated by commas e.g. `"[1,2-3,4,5-7]"`
+  - Optional `parameters`:
+    - `"delete_originals": true` to delete the original document after consumption. This requires the calling user being the owner of
+      the document.
   - The split operation only accepts a single document.
 - `rotate`
   - Requires `parameters`:
diff --git a/src-ui/messages.xlf b/src-ui/messages.xlf
index 2cdb7a78a..56cfa9ae4 100644
--- a/src-ui/messages.xlf
+++ b/src-ui/messages.xlf
@@ -2302,11 +2302,11 @@
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1151</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1152</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1192</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1193</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts</context>
@@ -2970,11 +2970,18 @@
           <context context-type="linenumber">24</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
+      <trans-unit id="5612366187076076264" datatype="html">
+        <source>Delete original documents after successful merge</source>
+        <context-group purpose="location">
+          <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">32</context>
+        </context-group>
+      </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="5138283234724909648" datatype="html">
         <source>Note that only PDFs will be included.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">30</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">34</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="8157388568390631653" datatype="html">
@@ -2991,6 +2998,13 @@
           <context context-type="linenumber">28</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
+      <trans-unit id="492847770415850840" datatype="html">
+        <source>Delete original document after successful split</source>
+        <context-group purpose="location">
+          <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.html</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">49</context>
+        </context-group>
+      </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="2509141182388535183" datatype="html">
         <source>View</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
@@ -5475,7 +5489,7 @@
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1169</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1170</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/guards/dirty-saved-view.guard.ts</context>
@@ -5957,21 +5971,21 @@
         <source>Split operation will begin in the background.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1128</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1129</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="3235014591864339926" datatype="html">
         <source>Error executing split operation</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1137</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1138</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="6555329262222566158" datatype="html">
         <source>Rotate confirm</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1149</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1150</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts</context>
@@ -5982,49 +5996,49 @@
         <source>This operation will permanently rotate the original version of the current document.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1150</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1151</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="4069543875319587651" datatype="html">
         <source>Rotation will begin in the background. Close and re-open the document after the operation has completed to see the changes.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1166</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1167</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="2962674215361798818" datatype="html">
         <source>Error executing rotate operation</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1178</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1179</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="3539261415918606512" datatype="html">
         <source>Delete pages confirm</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1190</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1191</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="5854352498125813866" datatype="html">
         <source>This operation will permanently delete the selected pages from the original document.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1191</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1192</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="8617528702531167646" datatype="html">
         <source>Delete pages operation will begin in the background. Close and re-open or reload this document after the operation has completed to see the changes.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1206</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1207</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="1249139200486584973" datatype="html">
         <source>Error executing delete pages operation</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">1215</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">1216</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="4958946940233632319" datatype="html">
@@ -6417,7 +6431,7 @@
         <source>Merged document will be queued for consumption.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">819</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">822</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="2784168796433474565" datatype="html">
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html
index 0da291c94..576861ff2 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.html
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
             }
         </select>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-check form-switch mt-4">
+      <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" role="switch" id="deleteOriginalsSwitch" [(ngModel)]="deleteOriginals" [disabled]="!userOwnsAllDocuments">
+      <label class="form-check-label" for="deleteOriginalsSwitch" i18n>Delete original documents after successful merge</label>
+    </div>
     <p class="small text-muted fst-italic mt-4" i18n>Note that only PDFs will be included.</p>
 </div>
 <div class="modal-footer">
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.ts
index 7e64a4f84..1530620e1 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog/merge-confirm-dialog.component.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core'
 import { ConfirmDialogComponent } from '../confirm-dialog.component'
 import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap'
 import { DocumentService } from 'src/app/services/rest/document.service'
+import { PermissionsService } from 'src/app/services/permissions.service'
 import { CdkDragDrop, moveItemInArray } from '@angular/cdk/drag-drop'
 import { Subject, takeUntil } from 'rxjs'
 import { Document } from 'src/app/data/document'
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export class MergeConfirmDialogComponent
   implements OnInit
 {
   public documentIDs: number[] = []
+  public deleteOriginals: boolean = false
   private _documents: Document[] = []
   get documents(): Document[] {
     return this._documents
@@ -27,7 +29,8 @@ export class MergeConfirmDialogComponent
 
   constructor(
     activeModal: NgbActiveModal,
-    private documentService: DocumentService
+    private documentService: DocumentService,
+    private permissionService: PermissionsService
   ) {
     super(activeModal)
   }
@@ -48,4 +51,10 @@ export class MergeConfirmDialogComponent
   getDocument(documentID: number): Document {
     return this.documents.find((d) => d.id === documentID)
   }
+
+  get userOwnsAllDocuments(): boolean {
+    return this.documents.every((d) =>
+      this.permissionService.currentUserOwnsObject(d)
+    )
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.html b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.html
index d73e97817..411f5ab79 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.html
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.html
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@
             </ul>
         </div>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-check form-switch mt-4">
+       <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" role="switch" id="deleteOriginalSwitch" [(ngModel)]="deleteOriginal" [disabled]="!userOwnsDocument">
+       <label class="form-check-label" for="deleteOriginalSwitch" i18n>Delete original document after successful split</label>
+     </div>
 </div>
 <div class="modal-footer">
     <button type="button" class="btn" [class]="cancelBtnClass" (click)="cancel()" [disabled]="!buttonsEnabled">
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.spec.ts
index 27f458537..c010702fa 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap'
 import { NgxBootstrapIconsModule, allIcons } from 'ngx-bootstrap-icons'
 import { DocumentService } from 'src/app/services/rest/document.service'
 import { PdfViewerModule } from 'ng2-pdf-viewer'
+import { of } from 'rxjs'
 
 describe('SplitConfirmDialogComponent', () => {
   let component: SplitConfirmDialogComponent
@@ -32,6 +33,14 @@ describe('SplitConfirmDialogComponent', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges()
   })
 
+  it('should load document on init', () => {
+    const getSpy = jest.spyOn(documentService, 'get')
+    component.documentID = 1
+    getSpy.mockReturnValue(of({ id: 1 } as any))
+    component.ngOnInit()
+    expect(documentService.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1)
+  })
+
   it('should update pagesString when pages are added', () => {
     component.totalPages = 5
     component.page = 2
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.ts
index 47261afa2..266da00ab 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog/split-confirm-dialog.component.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-import { Component } from '@angular/core'
+import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core'
 import { ConfirmDialogComponent } from '../confirm-dialog.component'
+import { Document } from 'src/app/data/document'
 import { NgbActiveModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap'
 import { DocumentService } from 'src/app/services/rest/document.service'
+import { PermissionsService } from 'src/app/services/permissions.service'
 import { PDFDocumentProxy } from 'ng2-pdf-viewer'
 
 @Component({
@@ -9,7 +11,10 @@ import { PDFDocumentProxy } from 'ng2-pdf-viewer'
   templateUrl: './split-confirm-dialog.component.html',
   styleUrl: './split-confirm-dialog.component.scss',
 })
-export class SplitConfirmDialogComponent extends ConfirmDialogComponent {
+export class SplitConfirmDialogComponent
+  extends ConfirmDialogComponent
+  implements OnInit
+{
   public get pagesString(): string {
     let pagesStr = ''
 
@@ -32,8 +37,10 @@ export class SplitConfirmDialogComponent extends ConfirmDialogComponent {
   private pages: Set<number> = new Set()
 
   public documentID: number
+  private document: Document
   public page: number = 1
   public totalPages: number
+  public deleteOriginal: boolean = false
 
   public get pdfSrc(): string {
     return this.documentService.getPreviewUrl(this.documentID)
@@ -41,12 +48,19 @@ export class SplitConfirmDialogComponent extends ConfirmDialogComponent {
 
   constructor(
     activeModal: NgbActiveModal,
-    private documentService: DocumentService
+    private documentService: DocumentService,
+    private permissionService: PermissionsService
   ) {
     super(activeModal)
     this.confirmButtonEnabled = this.pages.size > 0
   }
 
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    this.documentService.get(this.documentID).subscribe((r) => {
+      this.document = r
+    })
+  }
+
   pdfPreviewLoaded(pdf: PDFDocumentProxy) {
     this.totalPages = pdf.numPages
   }
@@ -63,4 +77,8 @@ export class SplitConfirmDialogComponent extends ConfirmDialogComponent {
     this.pages.delete(page)
     this.confirmButtonEnabled = this.pages.size > 0
   }
+
+  get userOwnsDocument(): boolean {
+    return this.permissionService.currentUserOwnsObject(this.document)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.spec.ts
index 0194b9544..0a6eb3a5f 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.spec.ts
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ describe('DocumentDetailComponent', () => {
     expect(req.request.body).toEqual({
       documents: [doc.id],
       method: 'split',
-      parameters: { pages: '1-2,3-5' },
+      parameters: { pages: '1-2,3-5', delete_originals: false },
     })
     req.error(new ProgressEvent('failed'))
     modal.componentInstance.confirm()
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts
index ff671efe0..339d35587 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-detail/document-detail.component.ts
@@ -1120,6 +1120,7 @@ export class DocumentDetailComponent
         this.documentsService
           .bulkEdit([this.document.id], 'split', {
             pages: modal.componentInstance.pagesString,
+            delete_originals: modal.componentInstance.deleteOriginal,
           })
           .pipe(first(), takeUntil(this.unsubscribeNotifier))
           .subscribe({
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.spec.ts
index 8587095c1..cbc8cc4bf 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.spec.ts
@@ -1056,6 +1056,25 @@ describe('BulkEditorComponent', () => {
     httpTestingController.match(
       `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/?page=1&page_size=100000&fields=id`
     ) // listAllFilteredIds
+
+    // Test with Delete Originals enabled
+    modal.componentInstance.deleteOriginals = true
+    modal.componentInstance.confirm()
+    req = httpTestingController.expectOne(
+      `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/bulk_edit/`
+    )
+    req.flush(true)
+    expect(req.request.body).toEqual({
+      documents: [3, 4],
+      method: 'merge',
+      parameters: { metadata_document_id: 3, delete_originals: true },
+    })
+    httpTestingController.match(
+      `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/?page=1&page_size=50&ordering=-created&truncate_content=true`
+    ) // list reload
+    httpTestingController.match(
+      `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/?page=1&page_size=100000&fields=id`
+    ) // listAllFilteredIds
   })
 
   it('should support bulk download with archive, originals or both and file formatting', () => {
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts
index df3bf88c0..a03e27549 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts
@@ -813,6 +813,9 @@ export class BulkEditorComponent
         if (mergeDialog.metadataDocumentID > -1) {
           args['metadata_document_id'] = mergeDialog.metadataDocumentID
         }
+        if (mergeDialog.deleteOriginals) {
+          args['delete_originals'] = true
+        }
         mergeDialog.buttonsEnabled = false
         this.executeBulkOperation(modal, 'merge', args, mergeDialog.documentIDs)
         this.toastService.showInfo(
diff --git a/src/documents/bulk_edit.py b/src/documents/bulk_edit.py
index 9e0fc242a..7733a8d68 100644
--- a/src/documents/bulk_edit.py
+++ b/src/documents/bulk_edit.py
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ import logging
 import os
 from typing import Optional
 
+from celery import chain
 from celery import chord
+from celery import group
+from celery import shared_task
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db.models import Q
 
@@ -153,6 +156,7 @@ def modify_custom_fields(doc_ids: list[int], add_custom_fields, remove_custom_fi
     return "OK"
 
 
+@shared_task
 def delete(doc_ids: list[int]):
     Document.objects.filter(id__in=doc_ids).delete()
 
@@ -234,7 +238,11 @@ def rotate(doc_ids: list[int], degrees: int):
     return "OK"
 
 
-def merge(doc_ids: list[int], metadata_document_id: Optional[int] = None):
+def merge(
+    doc_ids: list[int],
+    metadata_document_id: Optional[int] = None,
+    delete_originals: bool = False,
+):
     logger.info(
         f"Attempting to merge {len(doc_ids)} documents into a single document.",
     )
@@ -277,7 +285,8 @@ def merge(doc_ids: list[int], metadata_document_id: Optional[int] = None):
         overrides = DocumentMetadataOverrides()
 
     logger.info("Adding merged document to the task queue.")
-    consume_file.delay(
+
+    consume_task = consume_file.s(
         ConsumableDocument(
             source=DocumentSource.ConsumeFolder,
             original_file=filepath,
@@ -285,16 +294,26 @@ def merge(doc_ids: list[int], metadata_document_id: Optional[int] = None):
         overrides,
     )
 
+    if delete_originals:
+        logger.info(
+            "Queueing removal of original documents after consumption of merged document",
+        )
+        chain(consume_task, delete.si(affected_docs)).delay()
+    else:
+        consume_task.delay()
+
     return "OK"
 
 
-def split(doc_ids: list[int], pages: list[list[int]]):
+def split(doc_ids: list[int], pages: list[list[int]], delete_originals: bool = False):
     logger.info(
         f"Attempting to split document {doc_ids[0]} into {len(pages)} documents",
     )
     doc = Document.objects.get(id=doc_ids[0])
     import pikepdf
 
+    consume_tasks = []
+
     try:
         with pikepdf.open(doc.source_path) as pdf:
             for idx, split_doc in enumerate(pages):
@@ -314,13 +333,24 @@ def split(doc_ids: list[int], pages: list[list[int]]):
                 logger.info(
                     f"Adding split document with pages {split_doc} to the task queue.",
                 )
-                consume_file.delay(
-                    ConsumableDocument(
-                        source=DocumentSource.ConsumeFolder,
-                        original_file=filepath,
+                consume_tasks.append(
+                    consume_file.s(
+                        ConsumableDocument(
+                            source=DocumentSource.ConsumeFolder,
+                            original_file=filepath,
+                        ),
+                        overrides,
                     ),
-                    overrides,
                 )
+
+            if delete_originals:
+                logger.info(
+                    "Queueing removal of original document after consumption of the split documents",
+                )
+                chord(header=consume_tasks, body=delete.si([doc.id])).delay()
+            else:
+                group(consume_tasks).delay()
+
     except Exception as e:
         logger.exception(f"Error splitting document {doc.id}: {e}")
 
diff --git a/src/documents/serialisers.py b/src/documents/serialisers.py
index 5213d4ca0..426527183 100644
--- a/src/documents/serialisers.py
+++ b/src/documents/serialisers.py
@@ -1131,6 +1131,12 @@ class BulkEditSerializer(
         except ValueError:
             raise serializers.ValidationError("invalid pages specified")
 
+        if "delete_originals" in parameters:
+            if not isinstance(parameters["delete_originals"], bool):
+                raise serializers.ValidationError("delete_originals must be a boolean")
+        else:
+            parameters["delete_originals"] = False
+
     def _validate_parameters_delete_pages(self, parameters):
         if "pages" not in parameters:
             raise serializers.ValidationError("pages not specified")
@@ -1139,6 +1145,13 @@ class BulkEditSerializer(
         if not all(isinstance(i, int) for i in parameters["pages"]):
             raise serializers.ValidationError("pages must be a list of integers")
 
+    def _validate_parameters_merge(self, parameters):
+        if "delete_originals" in parameters:
+            if not isinstance(parameters["delete_originals"], bool):
+                raise serializers.ValidationError("delete_originals must be a boolean")
+        else:
+            parameters["delete_originals"] = False
+
     def validate(self, attrs):
         method = attrs["method"]
         parameters = attrs["parameters"]
@@ -1171,6 +1184,8 @@ class BulkEditSerializer(
                     "Delete pages method only supports one document",
                 )
             self._validate_parameters_delete_pages(parameters)
+        elif method == bulk_edit.merge:
+            self._validate_parameters_merge(parameters)
 
         return attrs
 
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_api_bulk_edit.py b/src/documents/tests/test_api_bulk_edit.py
index 7078aca12..ebef6a329 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_api_bulk_edit.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_api_bulk_edit.py
@@ -994,6 +994,82 @@ class TestBulkEditAPI(DirectoriesMixin, APITestCase):
         self.assertCountEqual(args[0], [self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id])
         self.assertEqual(kwargs["metadata_document_id"], self.doc3.id)
 
+    @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.merge")
+    def test_merge_and_delete_insufficient_permissions(self, m):
+        self.doc1.owner = User.objects.get(username="temp_admin")
+        self.doc1.save()
+        user1 = User.objects.create(username="user1")
+        self.client.force_authenticate(user=user1)
+
+        m.return_value = "OK"
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc1.id, self.doc2.id],
+                    "method": "merge",
+                    "parameters": {
+                        "metadata_document_id": self.doc2.id,
+                        "delete_originals": True,
+                    },
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+        m.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"Insufficient permissions")
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id],
+                    "method": "merge",
+                    "parameters": {
+                        "metadata_document_id": self.doc2.id,
+                        "delete_originals": True,
+                    },
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        m.assert_called_once()
+
+    @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.merge")
+    def test_merge_invalid_parameters(self, m):
+        """
+        GIVEN:
+            - API data for merging documents is called
+            - The parameters are invalid
+        WHEN:
+            - API is called
+        THEN:
+            - The API fails with a correct error code
+        """
+        m.return_value = "OK"
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc1.id, self.doc2.id],
+                    "method": "merge",
+                    "parameters": {
+                        "delete_originals": "not_boolean",
+                    },
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+        m.assert_not_called()
+
     @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.split")
     def test_split(self, m):
         m.return_value = "OK"
@@ -1066,6 +1142,24 @@ class TestBulkEditAPI(DirectoriesMixin, APITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         self.assertIn(b"Split method only supports one document", response.content)
 
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc2.id],
+                    "method": "split",
+                    "parameters": {
+                        "pages": "1",
+                        "delete_originals": "notabool",
+                    },  # not a bool
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+        self.assertIn(b"delete_originals must be a boolean", response.content)
+
     @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.delete_pages")
     def test_delete_pages(self, m):
         m.return_value = "OK"
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_bulk_edit.py b/src/documents/tests/test_bulk_edit.py
index 16579c887..37ebc35fc 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_bulk_edit.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_bulk_edit.py
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class TestPDFActions(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
             mime_type="image/jpeg",
         )
 
-    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.delay")
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.s")
     def test_merge(self, mock_consume_file):
         """
         GIVEN:
@@ -444,6 +444,50 @@ class TestPDFActions(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(result, "OK")
 
+    @mock.patch("documents.bulk_edit.delete.si")
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.s")
+    @mock.patch("documents.bulk_edit.chain")
+    def test_merge_and_delete_originals(
+        self,
+        mock_chain,
+        mock_consume_file,
+        mock_delete_documents,
+    ):
+        """
+        GIVEN:
+            - Existing documents
+        WHEN:
+            - Merge action with deleting documents is called with 3 documents
+        THEN:
+            - Consume file task should be called
+            - Document deletion task should be called
+        """
+        doc_ids = [self.doc1.id, self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id]
+
+        result = bulk_edit.merge(doc_ids, delete_originals=True)
+        self.assertEqual(result, "OK")
+
+        expected_filename = (
+            f"{'_'.join([str(doc_id) for doc_id in doc_ids])[:100]}_merged.pdf"
+        )
+
+        mock_consume_file.assert_called()
+        mock_delete_documents.assert_called()
+        mock_chain.assert_called_once()
+
+        consume_file_args, _ = mock_consume_file.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(
+            Path(consume_file_args[0].original_file).name,
+            expected_filename,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(consume_file_args[1].title, None)
+
+        delete_documents_args, _ = mock_delete_documents.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(
+            delete_documents_args[0],
+            doc_ids,
+        )
+
     @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.delay")
     @mock.patch("pikepdf.open")
     def test_merge_with_errors(self, mock_open_pdf, mock_consume_file):
@@ -469,7 +513,7 @@ class TestPDFActions(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
 
         mock_consume_file.assert_not_called()
 
-    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.delay")
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.s")
     def test_split(self, mock_consume_file):
         """
         GIVEN:
@@ -488,6 +532,44 @@ class TestPDFActions(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(result, "OK")
 
+    @mock.patch("documents.bulk_edit.delete.si")
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.s")
+    @mock.patch("documents.bulk_edit.chord")
+    def test_split_and_delete_originals(
+        self,
+        mock_chord,
+        mock_consume_file,
+        mock_delete_documents,
+    ):
+        """
+        GIVEN:
+            - Existing documents
+        WHEN:
+            - Split action with deleting documents is called with 1 document and 2 page groups
+            - delete_originals is set to True
+        THEN:
+            - Consume file should be called twice
+            - Document deletion task should be called
+        """
+        doc_ids = [self.doc2.id]
+        pages = [[1, 2], [3]]
+
+        result = bulk_edit.split(doc_ids, pages, delete_originals=True)
+        self.assertEqual(result, "OK")
+
+        self.assertEqual(mock_consume_file.call_count, 2)
+        consume_file_args, _ = mock_consume_file.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(consume_file_args[1].title, "B (split 2)")
+
+        mock_delete_documents.assert_called()
+        mock_chord.assert_called_once()
+
+        delete_documents_args, _ = mock_delete_documents.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(
+            delete_documents_args[0],
+            doc_ids,
+        )
+
     @mock.patch("documents.tasks.consume_file.delay")
     @mock.patch("pikepdf.Pdf.save")
     def test_split_with_errors(self, mock_save_pdf, mock_consume_file):
diff --git a/src/documents/views.py b/src/documents/views.py
index 02023b59f..c0ad3c67a 100644
--- a/src/documents/views.py
+++ b/src/documents/views.py
@@ -965,16 +965,31 @@ class BulkEditView(PassUserMixin):
             document_objs = Document.objects.select_related("owner").filter(
                 pk__in=documents,
             )
+            user_is_owner_of_all_documents = all(
+                (doc.owner == user or doc.owner is None) for doc in document_objs
+            )
+
             has_perms = (
-                all((doc.owner == user or doc.owner is None) for doc in document_objs)
+                user_is_owner_of_all_documents
                 if method
-                in [bulk_edit.set_permissions, bulk_edit.delete, bulk_edit.rotate]
+                in [
+                    bulk_edit.set_permissions,
+                    bulk_edit.delete,
+                    bulk_edit.rotate,
+                ]
                 else all(
                     has_perms_owner_aware(user, "change_document", doc)
                     for doc in document_objs
                 )
             )
 
+            if (
+                method in [bulk_edit.merge, bulk_edit.split]
+                and parameters["delete_originals"]
+                and not user_is_owner_of_all_documents
+            ):
+                has_perms = False
+
             if not has_perms:
                 return HttpResponseForbidden("Insufficient permissions")