The spirit of the Belfast Agreement could be in jeopardy if the British government starts back-pedalling on the policing reforms suggested in the Patten report, the SDLP has said.
In its formal response to the Patten recommendations at Stormont yesterday, the SDLP insisted the report had to be implemented in full if its credibility was to be retained.
Reacting to speculation the British government might not push through the proposed changes in name, badge and symbols, the SDLP spokesman on policing, Mr Alex Attwood, said the name change was not negotiable.
"Patten is absolutely unambiguous on the issue. He authoritatively states his reasons for the name change. Failure to adopt a new name, badge and new symbols would undermine the confidence of nationalists in the transformation of policing," he added.
In its response, the SDLP acknowledged the Patten recommendations' potential to create a more representative police service which would earn the "support and allegiance of all".
But it highlighted some perceived shortcomings of the report, such as the time-scale for achieving a greater religious balance in the new police service. Mr Attwood said the proposed aim of 30 per cent Catholics within 10 years was "hardly a radical target". He denied, however, claims by the DUP that recruitment on a 50:50 basis was illegal.
The SDLP criticised the Patten report for not containing provisions for an immediate ban on plastic bullets.
Mr Attwood said his party's submission to Mr Patten had made a strong case for their immediate withdrawal.
The party also acknowledged concerns about the power of the new district policing partnership boards to raise money for additional security services and suggested that any private firms employed should not be given the powers of police constable.
In its response to the Patten report, Amnesty International has welcomed a large number of the recommendations but said it did not go far enough in some areas such as human rights, accountability and transparency.