Talks will take place next week on a severance scheme for the RUC's full-time reserve. However, the 2,500-strong unit will not be disbanded until the Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, is satisfied that the security situation will allow it.
The SDLP and Sinn Fein have been calling for early disbandment as a sign that radical changes will be made to policing in the North. However, the Police Federation remains opposed to the abolition of the full-time reserve.
The Northern Ireland Office yesterday confirmed that it will begin talks about a severance scheme with the federation next Thursday. An NIO spokeswoman stressed the talks were preliminary and no date had been set for disbandment.
Some full-time reservists have already applied to leave under the existing pay-off terms for RUC officers. Attempts will be made at next week's talks to draw up a package for other officers, many of whom do not want to leave.
A federation spokesman said: "We will be meeting the NIO next week. The federation is strongly opposed to the disbandment of the full-time reserve. At a time when the terrorist threat is still quite evident, conditions are not right for such a move."