The prospect of a controversial change in the RUC as outlined in a leaked version of the Patten report on the future of policing in the North provoked continuing anger among unionists and police officers yesterday.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said if the proposals were accurate then the Patten report, which is due out in the next two weeks, should be immediately "consigned to the bin".
He said that while "good and sensible" points might be contained in the report, these would be lost amongst the controversy of "two fatal errors" made by the commission.
Among the proposals claimed to be in the report include the renaming of the force as the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Union flags being removed from stations and officers being given a new badge.
Officers will be asked to take a new oath, which makes no reference to Queen Elizabeth.
Mr Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said planned changes were unacceptable.
He said it was a repudiation of the existing force to get rid of the symbols such as the force's name, its badge and the Union flags, a move which would likely cause "deep hurt and offence".
He said it was also a repudiation of the force to suggest that local district boards buy extra policing services.
"In England that may lead to park wardens being employed, but in some parts of Northern Ireland that will lead to paramilitaries being employed."
Mr Trimble appealed to Mr Patten, former British governor of Hong Kong, to clarify matters, either by rejecting the press reports or releasing his report immediately.
Meanwhile, the Disabled Police Officers' Association (DPOA) said while officers accepted that changes which would bring about a more efficient police service had to be welcomed, they felt betrayed.
Mr Sam Malcolmson, of the DPOA, said: "Most of our members are disgusted that this could be done to us. Lives have been lost, limbs have been lost and now we are going to lose everything else."
The Police Authority said it would continue to support any reform which was in the best interests of the police service and the community.
The authority said it would welcome its position being enhanced and it was committed to more effective local police accountability.