NI police board to discuss retaining reserve

The North’s police board will meet today to discuss the possibility of retaining the full-time reserve against the recommendations of the Patten Report.

The report, a central part of the Good Friday Agreement, said the reserve should be phased out over time, but chief constable Hugh Orde has called for its retention on a temporary basis due to the deteriorating security situation.

The police board is expected to agree to Mr Orde’s request, but while unionists want the reserve maintained indefinitely, the SDLP wants the measure to last just three years.

There are currently 2,000 men and women serving in the full-time reserve.