Student police officers in Northern Ireland have been issued with personal protection weapons because of an increased terrorist threat, it has emerged.
With dissident republican terrorists mounting a new campaign against new recruits, in a bid to frighten them from joining the new force, guns are available if requested.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman has confirmed the move.
The move came after former acting chief constable Colin Cramphorn wrote to his policing board chairman Professor Desmond Rea outlining the heightening fears of paramilitary attacks.
Mr Cramphorn - who stood down when Hugh Orde was appointed the new PSNI chief earlier this month - said all student officers would be given a weapon and training if requested.
The current security climate made the move necessary, he told Prof Rea.
In April the Real IRA admitted it bombed the police training college at Garnerville in east Belfast.
Weeks later a failed murder bid was mounted on a Catholic officer in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Some student officers have been issued with personal protection weapons because of an increased terrorist threat.
"Because of the level of threat against them, if any student officers apply for personal protection weapons their applications will be dealt with as soon as possible."
SDLP policing board member Alex Attwood claimed 39 recruits had voiced concerns.
"Given that they are under threat it's a responsibility to both ease that threat and give to those who are under threat a greater level of protection," he said.
Fears are growing that the next stage of the recruitment campaign to the PSNI could see Catholic applications drop dramatically because of the terrorist targeting.
Under the Patten programme of reforms, all recruiting must be done on a 50-50 basis along religious lines, in a bid to balance the predominantly Protestant police service.
Mr Attwood insisted none of the trainees he had spoken to were considering leaving the PSNI.
He added: "This is the minimum we should be doing and the minimum that people in Northern Ireland will recognise should be done in order to give those who are brave the opportunity to do what they want to do, namely police our society."
PA