Sinn Féin has refused an invitation to discuss a Policing Board plan with the Assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland, Mr Alan McQuillan. The party said it would play a "full and active" role when there was a new beginning to policing in the North.
Sinn Féin said Mr McQuillan had invited it to discuss the board's plan for the coming year. "Sinn Féin will not be accepting this invitation," said its chief whip, Mr Alex Maskey.
"Sinn Fein's unambiguous objective is to see established an acceptable policing service. When we achieve the new beginning to policing required by the Good Friday agreement, Sinn Féin will play a full and active role in policing structures.
Police officers remained unaccountable for their actions concerning the deaths of lawyers, Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson.
Sinn Féin would continue to "campaign vigorously" to change this, he added. "We will continue to engage with the British and Irish governments until this issue is got right. We will not accept second-class policing and a second-class policing service."