Plans for the reorganisation of Special Branch in the North have fallen short of their target, according to a report by Mr Tom Constantine, who is overseeing police reform in Northern Ireland.
In his fourth report on policing, the Oversight Commissioner said the plan to reorganise Special Branch did not live up to the recommendations on police reform made in the Patten Report.
However Mr Constantine did highlight that progress had been made in the "new beginning to policing". He said there had been "outstanding progress" on recruitment and an "excellent start" for the Policing Board.
The SDLP’s Mr Alex Attwood, who sits on the on the Policing Board, claimed the report "vindicated" his party's decision to join the body.
Backing Mr Constantine's view of the Special Branch re-organisation, the West Belfast MLA said: "That is why the SDLP through the board has pursued a strategy to ensure that Patten's recommendations on Special Branch are fulfilled."
DUP member of the Police Board, Mr Ian Paisley Jr, claimed the failure to complete a amalgamation was a victory for unionist opposition.
"The DUP view this as an acknowledgement that we have been successful in putting the brakes on this pernicious aspect of the Patten proposals," he said.
The report did not include several recent developments, according to the Assistant Chief Constable responsible for change management within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Mr Sam Kincaid.
He said these include the first trainees to graduate to the force, a new oath, and closer co-operation between police on either side of the Irish border.
Pledging to address areas of concern, Mr Kincaid said: "The Police Service remains dedicated to the implementation of the Patten recommendations within the obvious constraints of time, resources and external circumstances such as security and public order."
Northern Security Minister Ms Jane Kennedy also focused on the progress made: "Where has identified areas of concern we, along with the police and the Policing Board, will urgently seek to address them."
Mr Constantine, a former head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration and New York state police chief, also identified other areas of concern.
These included: a lack of progress on a new police college; not enough being done to create civilian posts within the police; and concerns about resources and about human rights training.
Additional reporting PA