The Ulster Unionists may boycott the policing board in response to the Northern Secretary's latest appointments.
Peter Hain has announced that party political members would be outnumbered on the 19-member board when it is reconstituted next month under the chairmanship of Prof Sir Desmond Rea.
There will be 11 "independent" members, chosen by Mr Hain, and just eight party political appointees, comprising four for the DUP and two each for the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.
Sinn Féin did not submit any names and yesterday repeated claims that the board had failed to hold the PSNI to account.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey had warned in advance his party could not be guaranteed to take its seats on an "unelected quango" to run the PSNI.
Deputy leader Danny Kennedy said yesterday Ulster Unionists would discuss their next moves and may also consult wider opinion outside the party.
One reliable source indicated to The Irish Times that the mood within the party was in favour of a protest against what was described as a "meddling" with a successful institution of the Belfast Agreement and a departure from the Patten commission's policing recommendations.
"Peter Hain has unilaterally broken the agreement made in 2001 and is casting a shadow over the only piece of the 1998 arrangements to have weathered the storm," he said. "We continue to have major reservations and will examine the options carefully."
Sir Reg, currently in New York for a round of St Patrick's week political meetings, could formally announce what shape the protest will take following the consultations which are expected to take two to three days.
Fermanagh-South Tyrone Assembly member Arlene Foster, a new board appointment, said the DUP also disagreed with Mr Hain's decision.
However she added: "Obviously we would have preferred the politicians to be in the majority but in reality we are all appointees of the Secretary of State because the Assembly hasn't been reconstituted.
"Although there are just eight put forward by political parties there are others who are linked to political parties."
Former member Joe Byrne, who lost his Assembly seat for the SDLP in the last Stormont election, is named by Mr Hain among the "independents". Also nominated as "independents" are UUP member Trevor Ringland and Progressive Unionist Party chair, Dawn Purvis.
There was SDLP disquiet at the appointment of Ms Purvis as her party has associations with the outlawed UVF, which is not on ceasefire. She said last night her appointment would help to build better relations between the police service and working-class areas.
Policing Board of Northern Ireland members: who they are
Political party appointees
Alex Attwood: (outgoing member) - a solicitor and an Assembly member, he is the SDLP spokesman on policing.
Dolores Kelly: SDLP Assembly member for Upper Bann and has served on Craigavon Council for 12 years.
Fred Cobain: (outgoing) - UUP Assembly member for North Belfast and a former lord mayor.
Danny Kennedy: UUP deputy leader and an Assembly member for Newry and Armagh.
William Hay: (outgoing) - DUP Assembly member for Foyle, he has served on Derry City Council since 1981 .
Ian Paisley jnr: (outgoing) - DUP justice spokesman and Assembly member for North Antrim.
Arlene Foster: DUP Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, and solicitor who practises in Portadown.
Peter Weir: A barrister and DUP Assembly member for North Down. Like Ms Foster, he quit the UUP to join the DUP.
Independent appointments
Prof Sir Desmond Rea: (outgoing chairman) - former chairman of the Northern Ireland labour relations agency, the local government staff commission and of the NI council for the curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Joe Byrne: (outgoing) - former SDLP Assembly member, he was also a college lecturer before going into politics.
Barry Gilligan: (outgoing) - runs his own consultancy and property company and is chairman of the Colin Glen Trust and chairman of Groundwork Northern Ireland.
Pauline McCabe: (outgoing) - a training and business consultant, she has links with Newry Hospice and other charities.
Rosaleen Moore: (outgoing) - a social worker, she was director of mental health and disability services in Craigavon and Banbridge health and social services trust.
Suneil Sharma: (outgoing) - managing director of the Varsity Estates Group, he is a former commissioner with the commission for racial equality.
Dawn Purvis: chairwoman of the Progressive Unionist Party, she is a research associate at the University of Ulster.
Brian Rea: worked for 35 years for Castlereagh College of Further and
Higher Education, he is also vice-chairman of the Prison Service Trust and is a lay magistrate.
Trevor Ringland: a solicitor and a former Irish rugby international, he is a non-executive director of Independent News and Media (Northern Ireland) Ltd and is on the Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland.
Brendan Duddy: managing director of the Duddy Group, a retail, hospitality and property company. He is also chairman of City Centre Initiative Limited.
Deirdre MacBride: directs her own consultancy which specialises in social inclusion issues. She has previously worked in a range of community development groups, NGOs and partnerships.