Two rural police stations in Co Fermanagh have been saved from closure, it was announced yesterday.
The PSNI stations at Newtownbutler and Irvinestown are to be retained after a U-turn by police commanders.
However, final proposals for the closure of bases in Ballinamallard, Derrygonnelly, Kinawley, Lisbellaw, Rosslea and Tempo are to be put before the Northern Ireland Policing Board next month.
The decision to save the two stations followed a major consultation exercise with local communities about the future of policing in the county.
The process followed a meeting of the board in July when district commander Supt Clifford Best was asked to carry out further consultation on a proposal to close all eight stations.
Mr Best said of the latest decision: "I have an obligation to use all of the resources available to me - officers, staff, equipment and buildings - in the most effective and efficient way.
"I want to provide the people of Fermanagh with the best possible policing service and make the county a safer place to live, work in and travel to."
He said he could understand some people may take comfort in having a police station nearby but he did not want to have officers tied to stations which quite often were "not fit for purpose and are rarely used by the public". - (PA)