The debate over the level of security which should surround policing in Northern Ireland essentially comes down to a matter of timing.
Quite apart from the views of politicians, most police officers would eagerly look forward to the day when they can carry out all their duties in an atmosphere of complete normality.
That means unarmed PSNI members patrolling in ordinary cars, or preferably on foot, in all areas, while based in police stations which are readily accessible to the public.
When such a worthy objective can be accomplished is open to question, but it is essential that opinions should be canvassed across the community.
As of now, police officers can clearly not dismiss the possibility that they will face a paramilitary attack in the course of a working day.
Dissident republican elements have sporadically attempted to target both police stations and mobile patrols in a number of districts in the recent past.
These evil activities have thankfully not resulted in the loss of life, but it is vital that appropriate precautions should be taken while similar groups maintain their shameful efforts.
The threat from loyalist organisations also needs to be taken particularly seriously.
It will be recalled that the last police officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland, Constable Frank O'Reilly, was caught in a loyalist explosion in Portadown in 1998.
Since then, loyalists of various descriptions have regularly turned their weapons on the police.
It is only four months since loyalists engaged in sectarian disturbances in east Belfast directed a burst of automatic gunfire at police lines, striking an armoured vehicle several times.
Police have made considerable progress in their campaigns against those who cling to violence on both the loyalist and republican sides, and security assessments may change as a result.
It is also conceivable that some illegal groups will finally accept the futile nature of their tactics and simply fade away.
In those circumstances, the goal of an unarmed force will be much closer to becoming a reality.
The issue of the deployment of resources in terms of buildings should be much easier to address.
Many police stations are outdated, and others are in locations which entail significant costs for little practical benefit to the PSNI.
A comprehensive review in this regard, which is based on the principles of effective policing, could only be beneficial.
