Crime detection rates in Northern Ireland would surge if a political settlement was reached, chief constable Hugh Orde claimed yesterday.
Officers deployed at sectarian flashpoints could be transferred to normal policing duties, he indicated.
Mr Orde said: "What we need to realise is if we can deliver, or if politicians can deliver, a more stable policing environment the benefit to communities is massive.
"The number of my officers deployed on security duties who would be released on to ordinary duties would be huge."
The chief constable outlined the major policing benefits from reaching political agreement as he spoke during a debate at the Ulster Unionists Party's annual conference in Armagh City.
Efforts to strike a deal that would restore Northern Ireland's power sharing government have intensified as all sides backing the Belfast agreement work to break the deadlock in the peace process.
The negotiations include demands for the IRA to bring a halt to all it's paramilitary activity.
And Mr Orde insisted that if the terrorist threat was lifted then more of his officers could focus on a major blitz against ordinary criminals.
He added that Northern Ireland has a bigger ratio of police officers than the rest of the UK because of the security situation.
But he insisted: "If we could free them up to deliver at the front end our crime clear-up rates would actually rocket."
PA News