The PSNI has stated that its intelligence gathering operations are closely regulated after Sinn Féin accused Chief Constable Mr Hugh Orde of waging a "dirty war" against nationalists.
Two men, who said that in recent weeks they were pressurised to work for the PSNI special branch, or C3 as it is now called, yesterday joined Sinn Féin Assembly member Mr Michael Ferguson at a press conference in west Belfast.
"The stories told by these two men and other similar reports received by Sinn Féin about this sort of PSNI activity across the six counties demonstrates clearly that the special branch's dirty war against the nationalist community continues," he said.
"This sort of activity is bound to raise questions for those who have been so vocal in their support for the current policing arrangements - arrangements which clearly have at their core the special branch still active, still running agents, still trying to recruit agents and still trying to spy on the broad nationalist community," added Mr Ferguson.
He said this activity was not compatible with a new beginning to policing. "This is not the sort of activity that we will hear members of the Policing Board discuss. The reality is that they are powerless to do anything about it and they know that to be the case." He said he was calling on the chief constable "to get his special branch off the backs" of the two men and the nationalist and republican community.
"He should end his media charm offensive and face up to the fact that what currently passes for policing here is unacceptable and incompatible with the demands of both Patten and the Good Friday agreement," added Mr Ferguson.
The PSNI in a statement said it did not comment on specific allegations but added: "The gathering of intelligence, including the use of covert human intelligence sources to tackle crime, is strictly regulated by the Regulatory Intelligence Powers Act.
"Any allegation of police misconduct should be referred to the office of the Police Ombudsman."