Northern Ireland's full-time police reserve is to be scrapped, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde confirmed on Thursday.
Sir Hugh made the announcement after a private meeting with members of the Policing Board in Belfast, where he told them there would be no reprieve for the 500-strong full-time reserve.
The pool of reserve officers will be cut from police ranks in line with the Patten reforms that transformed the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Reserve officers will start to leave next March and will all be completed phased out by March 2011.
Sir Hugh insisted no gaps in frontline policing would be left by their departure as he would move non-operational officers into their places.
The Chief Constable said no one liked to lose officers but it had to be remembered the full-time reserves were available only for security duties, not everyday policing.
'Premature'
DUP MLA and Policing Board member Jimmy Spratt said: "I think it is a wrong decision and I want to totally disassociate myself with the decision at the Board today."
He also warned that if someone was injured in a terrorist attack following the decision then questions would inevitably be asked about manpower levels.
UUP Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott also said he was gravely concerned about a move which was being implemented too early.
He said: "There are 500 full-time reservists, representing 9% of constables in the province - Northern Ireland is simply not ready to endure that loss."
"For those who are suffering intimidation and have been left fearing for their lives - feelings we once imagined were a thing of the past - phasing out these officers appears to amount to gambling with lives," said Mr Elliott.
"Running with the Patten commission's recommendations at this stage would be premature and dangerous."
But Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay said: "The removal of the full-time reserve from the policing equation is another necessary step on the path to an accountable and civic policing service."
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said it was consulting lawyers over whether it could challenge the decision.
Chairman Terry Spence said: "This is an appalling decision which flies in the face of every single piece of advice he (Sir Hugh) has been given.
"We are exploring all our options to have this decision reviewed - including taking legal advice."
Sir Hugh said people owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of the full-time reserve, and their part-time colleagues.
"We cannot and will not forget their commitment and service," he said.
Sir Hugh is due to leave the Chief Constable's post in September and the Police Federation had asked that a final decision on the reserve be left to his successor.
© Press Association