This was never going to be an easy issue to resolve

Professor Des Rea

If the board, which has a membership of 10 political and nine non-political representatives, cannot come to agreement, Dr Reid will make the decision

Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea said members wanted to look at all the options.

Mr Rea said in statement: "This was never going to be an easy issue to resolve.

"The Policing Board represents a broad church of opinion and that is one of our strengths.

"It also means that on subjects such as this members of the board are likely to hold very different views."

But he said the important thing was for its members to agree on the new emblem.

The board has also asked Dr Reid for more time to consider the issue, claiming the current 14 December deadline is too restrictive.

Seven designs

A small working group has been set up to deal with the design issue and it will take into account the wider consultation process. It also plans to approach newspapers to assist in the process.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included the new code of ethics currently being drafted.

The board also agreed to press the secretary of state for extra funding - �44 million for next year's police budget.

On Monday, unionists rejected emblems for the new police service after seven different ideas for designs were published by the government.

The designs used symbols including the flax flower - symbolic of Northern Ireland's history as a linen producer - a bridge and a star.

There was also a heraldic shield design and a St Patrick's Cross emblem.

Neutral

Neither the crown nor harp used in the old Royal Ulster Constabulary badge were included.

The Policing Board is also expected to consider proposals regarding how and when flags can fly over Northern Ireland police stations.

Under the Patten recommendations, on which the plans for widespread changes to policing were based, police emblems and stations are to be politically and religiously neutral.

The Policing Board has replaced the Northern Ireland Police Authority and will work to oversee the new service and can hold the chief constable to account.

The Ulster Unionist Party, the nationalist SDLP and the Democratic Unionist Party all nominated members to the board in September. Sinn Fein refused to take their seats.