The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has warned the British government against "bullying" nationalists into compromises on policing.
Speaking at Stormont after discussing the issue with the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, Mr Adams said the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, had to recognise that he was not going to "cajole, break, intimidate or fracture" the broad democratic consensus among nationalists who demanded the full implementation of the Patten report.
Mr Adams insisted his party was in complete agreement with the SDLP on the issue, which transcended party politics. "They [the SDLP] understand and we understand that this is a combined responsibility. The need is to bring about a policing service which is in common ownership of all the people," he added.
Mr Adams said some republicans were concerned that the British government already appeared to be in "election mode" and thus postponing dealing with important issues. "Elections come and elections go. At the end of it, the big issues of justice and equality and equity for people remain, and if they remain unresolved, then they become a source of injustice which others will try to perpetuate and we will try to correct," he said.
Asked about the changes Sinn Fein sought, Mr Adams said provisions needed to be made to create a "completely depoliticised" policing service and address the lack of accountability with regard to the powers of the Northern Secretary, the Chief Constable, Reserve officers, Special Branch and the Policing Board.
Commenting on a meeting with the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, on Sunday, Mr Adams said his party was working hard to find a way out of the current impasse but placed the onus for a breakthrough firmly on the British government.