The RUC is pulling officers from duties at North’s courts in an effort to boost numbers available on the streets, it was revealed today.
Civilians are being recruited by the Court Service to take over the jobs that hundreds of RUC officers have traditionally filled in the courts.
The move comes amid the reduction in the size of the RUC under the terms of the Patten Report. Around 600 left by this spring and a further 1,000 will be gone by the same time next year.
There have been growing concerns that the force will not be able to cope if there is any sustained major outbreak of street violence.
New recruits brought in earlier this year will not be ready for duty until next spring.
The RUC and Court Service have agreed a rolling programme which will see a gradual hand-over of duties to civilians as they are trained.
Civilians will take over security at court entrances, act as court orderlies and jury-keepers under the shake-up.
An RUC spokesman said the move was in keeping with the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Review and "best practice" across the UK.
But he said where there was a high-profile case, security would still be provided by the force.
The pace of the changes will be determined by the speed of recruitment and training by the Court Service, he added.
A Northern Ireland Court Service spokesman said: " It is envisaged that police will still provide an appropriate level of service in and around the courts."
PA