The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has said he is worried by the number of officers leaving the force and confirmed a new recruitment drive will begin shortly.
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said an independent recruitment agency would be contracted to handle police recruitment under the terms of the Patten report, which set 50/50 recruitment of Catholics and Protestants to a new service.
"We hope to advertise in the very near future for new recruits and I need those new recruits on the street absolutely as quickly as possible. But in the meantime I have to say that I am worried about the number of officers that I have," he said.
Reports have suggested the recruitment drive could start as early as next week, with the selection process beginning in April.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said yesterday his party wished to see a police service that drew loyalty and membership from both sections of the community. This would require a large recruitment campaign and he "certainly hoped" it would be successful.
Mr Hume said he was encouraged by current negotiations, which could enable the SDLP to sign up to membership of the new Policing Board shortly.
The SDLP Minister of Higher and Further Education, Mr Sean Farren, stressed key party demands on policing remained unresolved, including the call for judicial inquiries into the killing of Pat Finucane, Robert Hamill and Rosemary Nelson and confirmation of the timing of a number of proposed reforms.
However, he said the uncertainty surrounding policing had allowed a vacuum to be created, which was being exploited by paramilitaries and criminals. "This cannot be allowed to persist."
Commenting on the new recruitment, the Sinn Fein spokesman on policing, Mr Gerry Kelly, stressed the issue had not been resolved yet.
"If they are going to recruit what are they going to recruit into - a repackaged RUC?" he asked.
The Sinn Fein vice-president, Mr Pat Doherty, indicated limited progress had been achieved in talks between the party and the two governments on the issue. Sinn Fein has demanded the policing legislation be amended.
"However, it is still possible to achieve a new policing service which reflects the goals set out in the Good Friday agreement and which is supported by the whole community.
"And this can be best achieved if all of those interested in achieving a new policing service stay focused and continue to work together," Mr Doherty said.