Sinn Féin was today accused of "white collar terrorism" after SDLP members of a local council were warned against joining new district policing partnerships (DPPs).
Claiming that republicans in Co Down have issued direct threats, the SDLP is to raise the issue with the British and Irish governments and Sinn Féin leadership.
It follows comments by Sinn Féin representatives on Newry and Mourne Council asking if nationalists joining the local DPP planned to carry firearms or had consulted their families about the implications.
Another warned that their names would appear on posters all over the area.
South Down Assembly member Mr PJ Bradley, who attended the stormy meeting said the comments were clearly intended to intimidate. He said: "This was white collar terrorism. It was pure thuggery."
Mr Bradley said the threats would not prevent members of his party from joining the 29 DPPs set up under the Patten reforms to monitor policing at a local level.
Sinn Féin denied issuing threats, accusing the SDLP of adopting scare tactics because it was losing the argument of policing. Newry and Mourne councillor Mr Charlie Casey said: "They won the vote but we won the arguments. The DPPs don't have the power to hold the police to account."
Mr Casey suggested comment about carrying firearms was meant to convey the threat coming from dissident republicans. He said: "The Provisional IRA and Republican Movement are on ceasefire and have been for some considerable time. There is a threat coming from dissident republicans.
"We are trying to educate these people about getting away from that but it is there and it is real.
A major campaign is under way to enlist independent members to the DPPs but Sinn Féin has refused to sign up until the Patten recommendations are fully implemented. It has called for the ban on ex-paramilitary prisoners joining the DPPs to be lifted.
Sinn Féin is the only political party to refuse to sign up to the policing arrangements and take its two seats on the main board.
PA