Concern for the safety of rank- and-file PSNI officers has reached critical levels, prompting warnings that troops may be needed once again on the streets of Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

As the First and Deputy First Ministers attempt to work out a deal with Downing Street over the future of policing and justice, the Police Federation and a member of the Policing Board have warned that if the security situation in Northern Ireland deteriorates further the Chief Constable should request the return of military support.

The chairman of the Federation, Terry Spence, and DUP Policing Board member Jimmy Spratt said the threat against on-duty and off-duty officers had greatly increased in recent months and warned that the phasing out of the full-time police reserve is going to place even more pressure on frontline officers, potentially leading to a breach of their health and safety.

Dissident republicans have intensified their activities in recent weeks:

• Last night leader of the Traditional Unionists Jim Allister said he received a death threat from the Continuity IRA.
  
• Over the past year 30 PSNI officers have been so concerned about their safety that they have been forced to move home.
  
• 420 viable devices have been found in 750 security alerts across Northern Ireland in the last two years
  
• Concern is growing over the safety of former members of the security services as it emerges that in the past 10 months the PSNI has removed 172 personal protection weapons from them.
  
• The Police Federation has warned that if cuts to the PSNI manpower and budget continue troops may have to be brought back to help tackle the terrorist threat.

Growing concern over the safety of officers comes amid revelations that the PSNI has removed personal protection weapons from over 170 former members of the security forces so far this year. The Belfast Telegraph has learned that 2,030 former security force members — police and Army — currently have firearms certificates allowing them to carry a personal protection weapon.

Freedom of Information figures provided by the PSNI show that 172 guns have been taken back from former security force members this year as three-year licences have come up for renewal. None were taken back in either 2006 or 2007 and four were removed last year.

Police Federation chairman Terry Spence said he is deeply concerned about the current security situation and that while the return of military support is not a move the federation would like to see, he warned that PSNI resources are being stripped to such a level that officers are struggling to deliver an effective police service.

“The threat has greatly increased against our officers both on and off-duty. The situation is very, very serious and we have made it clear that we need the resources. The full-time reserve must be retained. They are very experienced dealing with this type of activity. If they are going to be phased out this is going to put more pressure on officers on the frontline. It will breach the health, safety and welfare of those officers on the ground and we would have very serious concerns,” he said.

“We need the financial package in place to ensure we can deal with this. We must have no more downsizing.

“We do not want to see the Army back on the streets, but if they leave us with no choice where do we go?”

Mr Spence said that the security situation has deteriorated since the time of the Good Friday Agreement and the Patten Report when Northern Ireland had 13,000 full-time police officers and full military support.

“We are being squeezed to the point we are struggling to deliver the service and the Government has got to realise that.”

Policing Board member Jimmy Spratt said he is becoming increasingly concerned that the PSNI does not have the adequate resources to deal with the threat should it escalate further.

“It is getting close to the point where the Chief Constable may be forced to recall the military for police support.

“If the Police Federation or PSNI Commanders raise serious concern about the health and safety of officers the Chief Constable will have no other way out other than seek support that can only come from the military.”