The PSNI has announced plans to introduce Police Community Support Officers in Northern Ireland.
The officers will act as assistants in front-line community policing and have functions similar to those of the Garda Reserve.
PCSOs would be civilian employees trained to work alongside and support their police colleagues.
A public consultation on wider policing issues will be launched in the coming weeks which will include the introduction of PCSOs.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has also endorsed this initiative.
Vetting procedures for the new community officers will be the same as those applied to the PSNI.
