Al Hutchinson condemned "cowardly threats and intimidation"

Al Hutchinson said he was "as confident as ever" that this would be accomplished.

In his latest report published on Tuesday, he said the transformation to policing in Northern Ireland in recent years had been remarkable.

The deep change that the police service would undergo "is beginning to take root", said Mr Hutchinson.

"There are, of course, those who are inclined to see only the negative, or the proverbial `half-empty glass', and it is once again important to remind everyone that this has been a remarkable transformation which has taken place in a relatively short period of time."

No police service is equipped to deal with society's problems by itself, nor could it hope to function well under such circumstances, much less deliver an acceptable policing service Al Hutchinson Oversight Commissioner

Such widespread police reform did not occur in a vacuum, but in an environment of real people with genuine concerns and expectations, he said.

However, the Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships were still not able to benefit from the full range of political representation necessary for true accountability and effectiveness, said the Oversight Commissioner.

"Those who resist or deny change should understand that the absence of full community support will only impede the necessary reforms, which in turn will only benefit the criminal activities of a few.

"No police service is equipped to deal with society's problems by itself, nor could it hope to function well under such circumstances, much less deliver an acceptable policing service."

Mr Hutchinson said the Policing Board and Police Ombudsman had diligently performed their roles and been "pivotal in supporting change and as important institutions of governance and accountability".

He said he condemned the "cowardly threats and intimidation" against members of the District Policing Partnerships by dissident republicans.

The Patten Commission said that an independent person should be selected to oversee the implementation of its 175 recommendations.

Mr Hutchinson, an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 34 years, took over from Tom Constantine who held the position from May 2000 until his retirement at the end of 2003.