SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood said moderate nationalists in Northern Ireland would not object to direct debate with republicans on the issue of policing in the North.
Mr Attwood said his party would welcome any debate on policing with any party in whatever format.
His comment follows a Sinn Féin call for the SDLP to explain in a public forum why it was urging nationalists to join and support the new police service.
Mr Attwood said after meeting RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan: "We would welcome any engagement with any party in any forum when it comes to discussing the future of policing.
"The SDLP opened up a front within Parliament, within the community and internationally to ensure that Patten was in spirit and in substance reflected in the law and the practice.
"We have now opened up a new front in the Policing Board. We are hitting the ground running when it comes to policing while others are beginning to stumble," he said.
The party broke ranks with Sinn Féin by saying it would take its three seats on the 19-member Policing Board, which will hold the new service accountable and take key decisions on some of the reforms.
Mr Attwood said the SDLP had emphasised during the meeting with Sir Ronnie that there were a number of issues with which the Policing Board, the chief constable and the Police Service of Northern Ireland would have to deal.
These included a comprehensive programme for the appearance of police stations, a code of ethics so all police officers were assessed against human rights standards, and the end of the Special Branch.
PA