The Policing Board is expected to question the North's Chief Constable about a wide-ranging speech he delivered in New York. Mr Hugh Orde was criticised by the Democratic Unionist Party for alleging that he faces disloyalty from within his ranks.
Mr Orde also told his audience that he wishes to see Sinn Féin members on the Policing Board and that he wants more British government support for a new officer training college. He also insisted his quick-fire restructuring of the police must continue.
Prof Desmond Rea, chairman of the Policing Board which overseas the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has circulated copies of the speech urgently to each of his board's 19 members.
The board's vice-chairman, Mr Denis Bradley, welcomed Mr Orde's remarks.
He told The Irish Times he endorsed the Chief Constable's comments: "I have said much the same myself at every opportunity I've ever been granted." Mr Ian Paisley Jnr, a member of the board, said yesterday: "His outburst was unprofessional, naive and plain silly and will only add to the disillusionment of many within the service.
"It portrays his paranoia and lack of confidence in both his own ability to lead and to instil confidence in his men. With paramilitarism rife in parts of the province, he should be leading from the front instead of sniping from 3,000 miles away."
The SDLP policing spokesman, board member Mr Alex Attwood said: "It is refreshing that the Chief Constable in a typically straightforward and direct manner has acknowledged that which is already recognised.
"The coalition for change, however, is far greater than the resistance. The frank and straightforward leadership of the Chief Constable is a style and standard of leadership that others could follow."
Mr Tom Kelly, an independent member rejected Mr Paisley's allegations. "Any organisation going through change will find resistance. He [Mr Orde\] has identified some of that. He didn't overplay it.
"I don't agree with everything Hugh Orde does. It is our job to challenge him when we feel they are wrong. He has to make himself accountable for his actions, but he has to say it as he finds it. Some people can't accept that.
"He has seen his police force make mistakes and he has come out and apologised for that which was unusual for the police in the past. Now, where he sees shortcomings, he is also coming out to identify where they are."
Another board member, Mr Fred Cobain of the Ulster Unionist Party said: "If we are going to have a new start to policing, everyone needs to be swimming in the same direction. Undermining the Chief Constable is undermining the police service."
Mr Irwin Montgomery, chairman of the Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said the Chief Constable had its full support for a new college."While we have our disagreements, by and large he has our backing in taking policing forward in Northern Ireland." He said the controversy about Mr Orde's remarks was a storm in a teacup.