The Chief Constable is to let go some 55 per cent of the 1,487-strong PSNI full-time reserve and place the remainder on three-year contracts. The Police Federation responded angrily, saying it had no confidence in the police chief and accusing him of responding to political pressure.
Mr Hugh Orde announced his politically sensitive decision, his most difficult to date, to the Policing Board at their headquarters in Belfast yesterday.
The Patten Commission recommended that the reserve, founded 33 years ago to support the former RUC, be abolished. The 807 departing reservists, who are overwhelmingly Protestant, are being offered severance packages worth up to £100,000 as a lump sum, with a pension to follow. One estimate puts the severance package at £100 million.
Those remaining may apply to join the main PSNI ranks but will be subject to the 50:50 Catholics/Others quota.
The number of officers on so-called "static" security will be cut by 197 to 430. Officers who patrol alongside colleagues in the regular service will be cut by 610 to 140.
Some 49 members of the full-time reserve died during the Troubles and a further five were killed in retirement.
The decision angered the Police Federation, which represents the reserve officers. Its leader, Mr Terry Spence said he was appalled at Mr Orde's "monumental blunder". The Superintendents' Association which represents the higher ranks, demanded a meeting with Mr Orde. Both representative bodies were briefed by the Deputy Chief Constable, Mr Paul Leighton, as Mr Orde conveyed his decision to the Policing Board.
Unionists and the Alliance Party were also angry, believing the PSNI to be short of frontline officers. Mr David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader said: "The Chief Constable must now address how he can restore his credibility." Mr Sammy Wilson of the DUP said the decision marked "a loss for everyone".
Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin criticised the move, saying it was contrary to the Patten recommendations. But the SDLP, which unlike Sinn Féin has taken its seats on the Policing Board which runs the PSNI, said it was a good day for policing.
Mr Orde said he was confident the move was the right decision and was based solely on policing and operational considerations.
He said crime rates had dropped, clear-up rates had improved and that the police officer per capita ratio was the highest in these islands.
He added: "It is an operational decision that takes the current security situation into account and I accept responsibility for it."
The Patten Report planned a policing service of 7,500 regular officers and 2,500 part-timers. With approximately one full-time officer for every 200 citizens, the PSNI is proportionately the best staffed police service in Britain or Ireland by far.
Mr Orde said dissident republican groups remained the most significant threat to policing. "There is every indication that they will maintain attacks on police patrols and stations."