A recruitment drive for the new police service in Northern Ireland is due to get under way later this week.
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Sir Ronnie Flanagan
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Northern security sources today disclosed RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is to begin advertising for new recruits for the police force despite nationalist and republican reservations about reform.
It is understood television adverts have been prepared for broadcast on Thursday or Friday.
Under the British Government's Police Act equal numbers of Catholic and Protestant recruits must join.
The drive also coincides with moves to reduce the number of police officers, with 500 expected to have left the RUC by the end of next month. It is anticipated that by next year, another 750 officers will have left.
The new recruits - around 240 - are expected to begin training next September and should be ready to serve on the streets by spring 2002.
They will be the first contingent of police officers to finish training for two years.
The move also comes at a time when talks involving the British and Irish Governments and the Northern parties are deadlocked on the policing issue.
The SDLP and Sinn Féin have so far declined to back the new service.
Both parties say the Police Act falls short of the recommendations made by the Patten Commission.
PA