There will be no compulsory redundancies in the regular police force in Northern Ireland as a result of the recommendations of the Patten report, to be published in Belfast tomorrow.
Redundancy packages are likely to be offered to 1,000 serving officers, a move which would open the way for the first phase of post-Patten recruitment with the long-term aim of a police service reflecting the religious composition of Northern Ireland society. But there are no indications of the likely cost to the taxpayer of such proposals.
It is understood Patten will propose that future recruitment be on a 50/50 basis between Protestants and Catholics. However, it is acknowledged that this will be a slow process, and that a proportionate religious balance in the force is unlikely to be achieved in the short term. Some experts say that significant change could take 10 years.
The Patten report is set to enrage unionists by proposing to scrap the royal title, and rename the 8,000-strong force the Northern Ireland Police Service. However, it is also expected to carry an explicit challenge to Catholic and nationalist leaders in the North to encourage young people from within their community to join the reformed police service.
Last night Mr Chris Patten and the members of the Commission were preparing to brief the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and other senior officers ahead of tomorrow's publication.
The report contains almost 200 proposals for the most radical reform of policing in the North since the Hunt Report 30 years ago.
The two governments will be briefed today on the contents of the report.
It is understood that members of the current Full Time Reserve, which will be phased out over a three-year period, will also be offered generous packages as their contracts of service will not be renewed.
However, some of the Full Time Reserve could ultimately be retained in light of the assessment of the security situation by the chief constable.
Of critical importance to its overall reception will be the report's proposals on the accountability of the chief constable, including to the new 19-member Police Board, and the line of authority from the chief constable down to local police board level.
There are suggestions that the Secretary of State, Dr Mowlam, is eager to make a statement on the Patten proposals when the House of Commons returns from its summer break in late October. However, Ulster Unionists, already gearing up to campaign to "save the RUC", are insisting on a minimum three-month period of consultation ahead of any legislative proposals.
Both the British and Irish governments, as well as the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, are being given details of the lengthy report ahead of its release in Belfast tomorrow morning, sources for the Patten Commission said last night.