The most senior PSNI officer in Belfast, the SDLP and Alliance have all criticised unionists for their boycott of the city's policing consultation body.
The unionists quit the District Policing Partnership, which gives local representatives an input into local policing decisions, amid fury over the PSNI's handling of loyalist street violence this week.
Cllrs Robin Newton, Elaine McMillan and Ruth Patterson of the DUP; Ulster Unionists David Brown and Jim Rodgers; Independent Unionist Frank McCoubrey; and Hugh Smyth of the Progressive Unionist Party all took the action.
Sectarian tension grew as standoffs and roadblocks continued for a fifth day yesterday following last weekend's rerouted Orange parade in the city which prompted widespread violence.
Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist leader, called for an end to the protests which, he said, were counterproductive.
"I'm appealing for an end to this," he said. "Allow the politicians to pursue the agenda of getting improvements to these areas, getting peace to these areas. Government is not going to focus on that while this disorder continues."
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland responded to the boycott, by saying: "There is some evidence of others working hard to help end it. However, all we are hearing from some quarters is abdication of responsibility and accusations of blame.
"I am disappointed that some feel they must disengage from District Policing Partnership. I can give my commitment to local communities that my officers will continue to engage with these forums to help make communities safer."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan also denounced the unionists' move.
"Clearly the UUP and DUP prefer to work with gunmen than the police," the Foyle MP said. "They prefer to work with people who shoot at the police than with the men and women whose job it is to enforce the law."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern pressed Sinn Féin to back the PSNI which, he said, had protected the Catholic community during a week of violence.
"Sinn Féin now have a duty to join with the SDLP in making the PSNI accountable to nationalist communities through the Policing Board and to press for the full implementation of the Patten Report," he said. "I would also strongly urge unionist leaders to maintain their full support for the structures of policing."
Loyalists are to stage a rally to Belfast City Hall next month in protest at British plans to axe the Royal Irish Regiment and other moves following the IRA's declaration in July that its campaign was over.