More than half of SDLP supporters believe nationalists in Northern Ireland should join the new police service, a poll released by the party claimed tonight.
A poll of 1,200 unionist and nationalist voters in seven Northern Ireland constituencies conducted by MRBI in March and April revealed 55 per cent of people believed nationalists should join the police service now, with 29 per cent opposed.
But only 36 per cent of the sample were confident the new service would have the support of both communities.
Significantly, when broken down along party lines, 59 per cent of SDLP supporters believed nationalists should join, with 29 per cent opposed and 12 per cent giving no response.
Thirty-four per cent of the Sinn Féin voters wanted nationalists to enlist, with 56 per cent against the idea and 10 per cent stating no preference.
Both parties have so far withheld endorsement of the new service, arguing more changes are needed to the British government's police reforms before they can advise their electorate to join.
Almost 8,000 people have applied to be among the first wave of 240 recruits who will begin training for the force in September.
SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood today denied the results showed the SDLP was out of touch with its own community on endorsing the police.
The West Belfast MLA insisted the results showed their deputy leader Mr Seamus Mallon was "reflecting the mood of SDLP voters very accurately" on the policing issue in demanding more changes.
The poll was conducted in four target constituencies of West Tyrone, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, North Belfast and South Belfast, as well as Foyle, Newry and Armagh and South Down where the SDLP has three seats.
PA