The year-old Police Service of Northern Ireland needs the support of the entire community, Chief Constable Hugh Orde has said.

In the absence of Sinn Fein's backing, Mr Orde said it was vital that the new district policing partnerships being set up in district council areas to make the police locally accountable, fully reflect the make-up of the community.

Sinn Fein is still refusing to back the PSNI a year after the changeover from the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Despite changes including 50% Catholic recruitment aimed at making the historically Protestant-dominated force acceptable to the whole community, Sinn Fein has said the programme of reform has not been radical enough.

The evolution of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland remains a work in progress

Chief Constable Hugh Orde

The Queen said in her speech this week that there would be further changes to the legislation governing policing in Northern Ireland.

But she did not give details and it is understood that changes may be proposed on a conditional basis.

Speaking at a special thanksgiving service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast on Sunday Mr Orde said he hoped everyone would eventually get behind the police.

"I hope it will happen. It has to happen if the system is going to work effectively," he said.

The prize, he added, was a police service that was the pride of people in Northern Ireland and the envy of other countries.

Mr Orde said it was encouraging that 35% of those applying to join the new service were Catholic.

And he paid tribute to people from different backgrounds who were coming forward to join in the face of the continued terror threat.

"They deserve our support," he said.

'Evolution'

Mr Orde, who took up his new post earlier this year, said it had been a momentous year of change for the PSNI, with a new name, badge, uniform and chief constable.

But he added it was vital to ensure that the service continued to move forward.

Countless lives have been saved as result of police effort and their sacrifice has not been in vain

Chief Constable Hugh Orde

"The evolution of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland remains a work in progress.

"There is much to be achieved to reduce levels of sickness and ensure that every officer available is at the front end of policing, not behind a desk."

Paying tribute to the RUC officers who had died or been seriously injured during the Troubles, he added: "We would not be in the current position if it hadn't been for the determination of those who have gone before us."

A total of 302 RUC officers and reserve officers were murdered by terrorists from 1969 to 1998, while more than 8,000 were seriously injured, he said.

"It is humbling to think of all those lives lost in the service of the community," Mr Orde said.

"Countless lives have been saved as result of police effort and their sacrifice has not been in vain."