The SDLP is seeking a fresh security assessment from the North's Chief Constable which could change the face of policing.
Mr Mark Durkan, the party leader, has already put his case for a security review to Mr Hugh Orde at a recent meeting. He believes that a new and positive security report by Mr Orde could lead to the closure of at least 23 joint police and British army barracks in the short term and lend impetus to moves to disarm the PSNI.
This, the party argues, would bring them more into line with the community policing practices of the Garda. Another five stations could be closed and policing services centralised, it proposes.
Mr Durkan has claimed that a "favourable" assessment could enhance prospects for "acts of normalisation" both now and in the future.
Speaking at a press conference in Belfast yesterday, Mr Durkan said "a routinely unarmed police service should be the norm" adding that the basis for such a move lay in the Patten report.
The party is keen to see the removal of as many high security measures at police stations as possible and to close as many small and part-time stations as the security situation permits.
It also wants to establish the PSNI as an open and accessible police service and to reshape the link between the police and the British army formed over the 30 years of the Troubles.
Mr Orde and the British army GOC, Sir Alistair Irwin, held a security meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, at Downing Street earlier this month and speculation is mounting that a radical reassessment of security installations is possible.
Sinn Féin is pressing hard for the removal of army hill-top watchtowers near the Border, especially in south Armagh, as part of demilitarisation moves.
Yesterday's SDLP calls for the closure of joint police-army bases and the raising of the disarmament issue adds to the political clamour for change to the policing, security and administration of justice structures. One SDLP source told The Irish Times the party felt it could be pushing on an open door.
The party's demands were heavily criticised as being anti-police yesterday by unionist parties and by the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers.
Mr Terry Spence of the federation said the SDLP policy was "fantasy policing" and he criticised the party claiming it was "unable to take up the federation invitation to talk".
The DUP's North Belfast MP, Mr Nigel Dodds, said the SDLP plans were "little more than surrender to criminals and terrorists". The party claimed nationalists and republicans were trying to "out-green" each other in advance of an election.
An Ulster Unionist Assembly member, Mr Danny Kennedy, branded the SDLP plans as "unrealistic". He said that plans for station closures in south Armagh were astonishing.
Mr Pat Doherty, the Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone, said the SDLP plans were welcome but overdue.
The Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, said security arrangements were a matter for the Chief Constable.