The Police Federation in Northern Ireland has called on the Chief Constable to shelve plans to phase-out the remaining 500 full time reserve officers, as planned under the Patten reforms of policing.
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The organisation, which represents rank and file officers, has said that the move flew in the face of Sir Hugh Orde's views over the level of threat from dissident republican groupings who are opposed to the peace process.
The Federation asked that with the search for a successor to Sir Hugh already under way, a final decision on the fulltime reserve be left to the new police chief.
The call came as the Chief Constable met with his senior colleagues to discuss the issue as part of the Patten Report led changes in police numbers.
Sir Hugh said the safety of frontline officers remains the most important issue.
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