Controversial plans to sell off 26 PSNI stations were backed by members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board today.
PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde wants to dispose of the facilities - most already closed down or only open on a limited basis - to generate £7.3 m in resources and money saved on their upkeep.
More proposed sales are likely to follow as police continue a review of estate.
While Unionist members opposed 20 of the closures, they were outvoted on each occasion by nationalist and independent members.
The proposals are part of a plan that could see more than 40 of the North's 108 police stations shut down by 2012.
Some unionist politicians have expressed fears that the closures could make it easier for dissident republicans to operate while Sinn Féin has insisted that the closures are necessary and pragmatic.
Of the 26 stations, 20 already are effectively closed. Five have limited opening, which means they open occasionally, while only one, Bessbrook in Co Armagh, is fully operational.
Stations marked for closure include Loughgall, Claudy, Markethill, Newtownbutler, Kesh, Pomeroy, Toomebridge, Bellaghy, Newtownstewart and Mount Pottinger in east Belfast.
There will be a subsequent review of a further 26 stations and while not all of these face closure, quite a number of them are likely to be shut down by 2012.
Police chiefs argue that closing the stations would free up more officers for frontline duty. They also contend that there is no need for so many stations because the number of police officers has reduced from 13,500 over the past 10 years to 7,500 officers now.