The Police Oversight Commissioner in Northern Ireland has warned against any delay in building a new £134m police training college.
Al Hutchinson also claimed it was critical the British government honours a pledge to pay for the academy to be built near Cookstown in Co Tyrone.
His latest assessment on reforms of the police service focused on training as one of the most crucial areas of the Patten blueprint for overhauling the service.
Training is central to the entire police change programme, with 51 recommendations relating either specifically or indirectly to training.
The practical delivery of training is largely being accomplished within the constraints of available time and resources.
This has resulted in the creation of both innovative training programmes and demonstrable results.
Although 114 of the 175 Patten recommendations have been completed, Mr Hutchinson insisted the new college to replace the crumbling Garnerville complex in east Belfast goes ahead.
Policing representatives heading up the project revealed last month that the state-of-the-art facilities will cost £50m more than first expected and will not be completed until 2009.
