Pressure is mounting on the DUP to provide assurances over a future power-sharing arrangement after sinn Féin agreed to hold an historic Ard Fheis in two weeks time where members will be asked to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The party is to seek the views of its grass roots support ahead of the Ard Fheis through a wide-ranging process of consultation.
If the proposed motion is passed, the party will state its support for the PSNI and will agree to appoint Sinn Féin representatives to the Policing Board and the District Policing Partnership Boards.
The party published the content of the motion today. It "fully commits" the party to give its "support for the PSNI and the criminal justice system."
It also authorises party members "to participate in local policing structures" and to "actively" encourage "everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the police services."
If passed, the party will agree to appoint Sinn Féin representatives to the Policing Board and the District Policing Partnership Boards.
Following the party's decision to hold the upcoming Ard Fheis, the Irish and British Governments now believe that with the party all but locked into policing, the shift holds the key to securing power-sharing and finally achieving a lasting political settlement.
The twin-track peace process strategy also involves an essential pledge from Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists that they will share power in a coalition with republicans.
By going ahead with the plan to let grass roots Sinn Féin members debate policing, pressure is now mounting on the DUP to confirm it will share power.
However, Mr Adams insisted that his party was taking the initiative - regardless of unionists' response.
The West Belfast MP did, however, hit out at their lukewarm response to a motion that represented a shift in republican policy and history when it was first taken last month.
After a senior Democratic Unionist again insisted they needed to see proof, Mr Adams said: "There is no defence for what they did because, and I say this not with any anger ... when you make a commitment you have to honour the commitment which you make."
Praising Sinn Féin's advance towards an historic endorsement of policing, British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain today shifted the onus for restoring devolution onto Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists.
Mr Hain described yesterday's move by Sinn Féin as "very good news for everyone who has the interests of Northern Ireland at heart."
Despite securing the required two thirds majority to hold an Ard Fheis, the Sinn Féin leadership may face opposition in some quarters.
The party is to hold a series of private and public meetings to consult with its grassroots support. The fear for Sinn Féin is that some republicans, who oppose the strategy, will stand against the party, possibly denying it Assembly seats in marginal constituencies.
One former Sinn Féin party worker who insisted that it was a step too far warned that independent republicans would stand in 13 of the 18 constituencies to be contested in a March poll to the Stormont Assembly.
Paul McGlinchey, a former election worker and brother of murdered INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey, pledged to be among the independent candidates.
He said: "Because there's been a lack of consultation out in the republican areas among the ordinary republican voter on the policing issue, by me standing and other individuals standing like me, we have given the republican people and the nationalist people that voted for Sinn Fein an opportunity to say to Sinn Fein we are not happy what you have done by signing up to policing."
The Ard Fheis will be held on Sunday January 28 in Dublin, and while a venue has yet to be chosen it is likely to be the RDS.
Additional reporting: Agencies