The PSNI is seeking agreement to close over 30 of its existing 83 station - or about 40%.

Details of the plan to shut 34 locations were presented to members of the NI Policing Board on Thursday.

The PSNI has to save £135m - 14% of its overall budget - in a four-year cost-cutting plan that runs until April 2015 and it said the station closures are essential for those savings to be made.

Police said the closures would save £3.5m a year - £2m in rates, maintenance and service contracts, and £1.5m on paying civilian security staff to protect the buildings.

In defence of the scheme, the PSNI said the savings would be used to help pay the wages of the 600 extra officers taken from desk jobs to police the streets since June 2009.

A statement from the NI Policing Board yesterday said: "At the December meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Members received a presentation from PSNI on the 2011 Estate Strategy.

"Board Members questioned PSNI and sought further information on the Strategy including plans for investment in the police estate through the new build and maintenance programme for the next four years and also proposals during this period for station review and rationalisation.

"In considering this Strategy and the future plans for the management of the police estate, the Board needs to be both satisfied and assured that the estate not only supports the delivery of the best possible policing service to the community but also delivers value for public money," the statement continued, adding: "Before a decision is taken on the Strategy presented, the Board agreed that some further information was necessary in a number of areas and has set up a working group to take this forward."

The proposed closures will also first have to go out to public consultation, but the police hope to be in a position to proceed with closures by the beginning of April next year.

The full list of proposed station closures is: Donegall Pass, Crossgar, Killyleagh, Saintfield, Comber, Donaghadee, Glengormley, Randalstown Dromore, Keady, Cloughmills, Bushmills, Dungiven, North Queen St, Knocknagoney, Hillsborough, Irvinestown, Beragh, Garvagh, Glenarm, Portglenone, Willowfield, Warrenpoint, Ballynafeigh, Holywood Dunmurry, Craigavon, Fintona, Castlederg, Eglinton, Broughshane, Cushendall, Portrush and Ballynahinch.

Done Deal?

However, NI Policing Board DUP member Jonathan Craig said: "No decision was taken to close any stations. Instead a working group has been established to investigate the best way forward for policing in these areas after significant concerns were raised by members including myself and DUP colleagues.

"These concerns were around rural 'proofing' and the effect of closing stations in rural areas, and whether this is a good use of public money given that around £500,000 was spent relatively recently on improvements and refurbishment of several stations.

"There is also the absolutely vital issue of how local community policing can be delivered when those local community officers in some cases could be based up to 20 miles away.

"As Chair of the Resources & Improvement Committee, along with the Vice Chair will be part of the working group looking at how we best move forward and I have yet to be convinced of many of the arguments which have been put forward regarding station closures in communities across the Province."

(BMcC/GK)