The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has expressed some anxiety about the forthcoming report from the Patten commission on policing but has appealed to his officers to remain calm in advance of its publication.
Sir Ronnie said he was "concerned but not nervous" about the report, which is due to be published on September 9th by the Independent Commission on Policing.
Leaks about a major overhaul of the RUC, including a name change and a major scaling down in strength from 13,000 to fewer than 8,000, has prompted unionist anger and apprehension. It is reported that the RUC's full-time reserve of more than 4,000 officers is to be disbanded, the oath, uniform and badge are to be changed, and the Union flag will no longer fly at police stations.
Unionist politicians also have been alarmed by a reported proposal that would create a two-tier dimension to the new force whereby district police boards could buy in additional policing services at local level.
This has prompted claims that this is a device to bring former paramilitaries into the force.
Sir Ronnie has written to his officers to try to reassure them about their future. He said it was regrettable there was so much speculation about the report. He was conscious that some of the reported proposals were causing "tremendous anguish".
He stressed in his message that any changes would take time. Proposals on future policing would require new legislation and consultation over a lengthy period. Change could only be in the context of the prevailing security situation, he added.
Sir Ronnie, referring to the potential impact of the planned revamp of policing, said it must be remembered that, taking in the full membership of the RUC, civilian support staff and police families, about 160,000 would be directly affected by change.
"That is about 10 per cent of the population in Northern Ireland, so I am concerned that Patten gets it right," Sir Ronnie told BBC Radio Ulster. "I am confident in the ability of the sort of people who comprise the Patten commission to come up with reasonable proposals that enhance the quality of policing."
He could understand in particular how members of the RUC full-time reserve would be particularly nervous about the speculation that they were to be disbanded, but any changes would involve legislation.
"So implementation has to be on an evolutionary basis rather than on any revolutionary basis, and I accept the prime minister's word that my officers, as they should be, will be treated with dignity and respect and indeed with generosity," Sir Ronnie said. "Until we see the report in its entirety, it is very dangerous to speculate," he added.
The Ulster Unionist Party security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, also cautioned against initial over-reaction yesterday. He said the speculation about a two-tier system was causing some anxiety, but he would wait to see.
He said that even if the report had merit, its positive points could be overshadowed by "tokenism" designed to appease republicans.
