Over the past decade, there has been a change in the nature of political violence from sectarian attacks by Protestant mobs against Catholics to an intensification of attacks against security forces. While at present, military involvement is still considerable, there has been a strong trend toward returning primary policing and counterterrorism responsibility to the RUC over the decade. Officers wear flak jackets, are heavily armed (including automatic weapons), and use armored vehicles on patrol. In addition to regular patrols, specialized units provide mobilized reserves in case of riots and for saturating high-incident areas. The crimes department has responsibility for investigating criminal offenses, including terrorism. The department has an excellent crime lab, an incidents center, and a close relationship with the political intelligence branch, which works closely with military intelligence. The Force Control Information Center provides a command and control capacity for the dispatch and allocation of forces at times of crisis. Despite the efforts of the RUC, restoration of the rule of law in Ulster will ultimately depend on improvements in the economy, politics, and attitudes of the region. 24 references.