Sinn Fein said it will engage in widespread consultation with its grassroots before delivering its definitive verdict on the Patten report. However, the signs last night were that the party leadership was prepared to view the document positively.
The SDLP said it would give a definitive response to the report after closer examination. However, the party's deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, welcomed recommendations concerning the new force's name, symbols and ethos.
For Sinn Fein, Mr Martin McGuinness said the party would not be offering a "knee-jerk response" but would hold a "proper, calm and reasoned discussion" with its base and the wider nationalist community. He refused to specify a decision date but said it would be "not long".
Nationalists needed to be convinced the report was really "a new beginning" and they would not be rushing to join the new force "until absolutely convinced they will be participating in a new, democratically accountable policing service," he said.
When asked if Sinn Fein was prepared to accept a police force upholding the laws of Northern Ireland, Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein had made many concessions during the peace process. "Sinn Fein is not afraid of compromise. We have a broad view. We are a very forward thinking party."
Asked if republicans could live with the Patten report given their previous aim of disbanding the RUC had not been secured, Mr McGuinness said: "If we create a new policing service, we will have effectively disbanded the RUC."
For the SDLP, Mr Mallon said the party wanted an immediate ban on plastic bullets and a much shorter time-scale for the achievement of religious balance in the force. But he added: "The report, taken in totality and implemented faithfully and speedily, contains the basis for the objectives of the Good Friday agreement to be attained in terms of achieving a police service which can attract and sustain the whole community's support.
"For unionists, there is an opportunity to achieve policing which attracts the support and involvement of both sections of the community. For nationalists, there is an opportunity to achieve a policing service under democratic control in which they can share ownership."
Ms Bernadette Sands McKevitt of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement said Sinn Fein should have rejected the report immediately. "There is no difference in the RIC, the B-Specials, the RUC or the Northern Ireland Police Service. They all uphold British rule in Ireland and that is unacceptable to republicans."
She added: "Why does Sinn Fein need a consultation period? Its leaders have always insisted the RUC should be disbanded. Will they now be telling their grassroots to accept a police force in the six counties? It will be a very sad day if they simply settle for a different name and uniform for the RUC. Those changes could easily have been made 30 years ago."
Mr Ruairi O Bradaigh of Republican Sinn Fein said the aim of the new police force would be to "defend the six-county statelet".