An SDLP member has condemned Sinn Féin's refusal to take its seats on Northern Ireland's new Policing Board.
Joe Byrne described Sinn Féin's actions as "indefensible and unsustainable".
The West Tyrone Assembly member is one of three nationalists on the board holding the Police Service of Northern Ireland accountable.
He told his party's annual conference that it was disappointing republicans were not playing their part in shaping the new beginning to policing.
Noting Sinn Féin's two seats had since been allocated to the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists, he insisted the SDLP would ensure the nationalist voice was heard on a range of key decisions affecting the new service.
He said: "It is unfortunate that Sinn Féin have decided to opt out at the crucial time for policing in the North.
"Republicans have an important role to play in the creation of a new police service but refusing to participate on the Policing Board and handing their seats over to those unionists who have vowed to resist Patten at every opportunity is indefensible and will not help to achieve a new beginning to policing in the North."
Among the key issues the SDLP's three members will be addressing on the board are the development of a new human rights code of ethics for the PSNI, the flag and emblems of the new service, the new training, development and education strategy and the new policing plan.
Mr Byrne rejected Sinn Féin's claims that the issues of a new human rights oath for the service, proper accountability, nationalist representation and the ban on the use of plastic bullets had not been addressed in the Government's revised implementation plan for its reforms.
He added: "The SDLP finds it hard to believe that Sinn Féin are telling nationalists that they are prepared to put their trust in the British government to deliver on Patten through their refusal to participate on the Policing Board and donating a seat to the DUP who have stated on numerous occasions their intention to wreck Patten."
PA