Speaking at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan believes new attitudes will seriously undermine efforts by dissident republicans.

Republican splinter groups have been behind five murder bids on police officers since Sinn Fein signed up to support the service last year.

Last week, 22-year-old Londonderry man Emmett Shiels was shot dead in the Creggan area of the city.

Mr Sheridan referred to the positive response the PSNI have received in relation to their inquiries to the fatal shooting in the predominantly republican stronghold.

"There is little or no community support (for the dissidents), you just have to look at the response in the community round the Emmett Shiels murder to see that," he said.

"There is a wind of change, a huge wind of change out there and I have seen that in a number of investigations."

He added: "There is a completely different response to police on the ground."

Mr Sheridan also played down reports that breakaway groups, the Continuity and Real IRA, were planning a joint campaign across Northern Ireland this summer.

The Assistant Chief Constable believes the two groups could not co-ordinate and in any case the PSNI would be doing their utmost to ensure it does not materialise.