New policing arrangements in Northern Ireland will not work fully without the backing of all political sides, the Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable warned today.
With the nationalist SDLP resisting pressure to nominate members to the Policing Board which will oversee the restructured force, Sir Ronnie Flanagan said it was crucial that the party signed up to the plan.
Sinn Fein has insisted unless the Patten Commission's proposals on police reform are fully implemented it will not back the new arrangements.
The SDLP are demanding more changes to the proposals before it agrees to nominate members to the board and agrees to recommend the new Police Service of Northern Ireland as a career for young Catholics.
But Mr Flanagan stressed political parties have a responsibility to cooperate if the problems over policing, which are contributing to the deadlock in the peace process, are to be overcome.
Meanwhile, Mr Flanagan confirmed today that undercover surveillance operations would be reviewed in a bid to thwart further loyalist pipe bomb attacks in Larne, Co Antrim.
During a BBC Radio Ulster interview he said he had no doubt that members of the loyalist paramilitary grouping the Ulster Defence Association has played a role in the campaign of violence in the town.
The recent spate of attacks is just the latest in a long campaign of sectarian incidents. Last year there were 76 sectarian attacks in the town, the vast majority against Catholics.
PA