Some politicians and judges in the North could lose their bodyguards as part of a major re-deployment of officers in an attempt to ease a policing manpower crisis.
Chief Constable Hugh Orde, who met members of his board in Belfast, today also sought its members' backing to retain nearly 2,000 reservists who were due to go.
As advertisements for an extra l00 experienced detectives appeared for the first time in the Police Review magazine, Mr Orde presented a strategy document outlining his plans for the next three years.
He is attempting to transfer more and more officers away from administrative and static security duties unto the streets.
This will involve scaling down the close personal protection unit, which looks after the security of senior members of the judiciary, lawyers, Unionist politicians and other VIPs, some of whom have had bodyguards for over 20 years.
Even though the terrorist threat by dissident republicans and loyalist paramilitaries remains high, security chiefs believe their services would be much better deployed dealing with rising crime levels.
A recruitment agency has also been hired to find an extra 1,000 civilian staff, who will free up more officers desk bound with administrative work.
Mr Orde said no personal protection officers had yet been removed from key individuals but the matter was also under review.
PA