The Ulster Unionist Party is split over whether to sign up to new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland following talks at Stormont today.
Pro and anti-Belfast Agreement unionists were heading towards another showdown in the party as the leadership began a series of meetings to persuade members of the need to join the 19-member Policing Board.
Mr Trimble is said to be keen to receive the backing of the UUP's 120-member executive on Saturday for the party taking its three seats on the board.
However, this would be against the wishes of the hardline wing of the party who believe boycotting the board with the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists will enable the UUP to "claw back" some of the gains made by nationalists on policing.
A pro-Agreement source insisted this evening there was "no option" but for the UUP to go on to the board.
"If we don't take our seats, the board as envisaged will collapse but the Secretary of State can nominate people to a shadow board over which we will have no say,"
However, anti-Agreement elements insisted there was no onus on the party to rush its decision on the board.
Honorary secretary Ms Arlene Foster, a senior member of the UUP, argued: "The SDLP held up the process for months until they secured 95 changes to the implementation plan and now they are prepared to go on to the board, we are being told we are supposed to move.
"What I am saying is let's take a leaf out of the SDLP book. Let's take the time available."
Her comments echoed those of leading anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MPs Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr David Burnside and the DUP.
SDLP Assembly member Ms Patricia Lewsley today urged the UUP to move swiftly.
"We are hoping that the other parties will take on the responsibility and stop using policing as a political football, as we have seen particularly in the Ulster Unionist camp," she said.
PA