Although many more challenges need to be faced, there is overwhelming evidence of significant advances in the field of policing across Northern Ireland.
Opinion polls are not as important as the day-to-day experiences of ordinary members of the public but they still have a role to play in the wider debate.
According to the latest survey released by the Policing Board, for the first time 50% of Catholics believe that the police treat both sections of the community in Northern Ireland equally.
This is still considerably lower than the number of Protestants who feel that officers take an even-handed approach but it clearly represents progress.
As the impact of the Patten reforms develops, it is reasonable to expect that approval for the PSNI will grow among Catholics.
The survey also suggested that Protestant confidence in the police, which had been declining in recent times, was starting to recover.
However, one crucially important message for PSNI commanders emerging from the poll was that both Catholics and Protestants were increasingly dissatisfied with levels of patrolling in their areas.
As last month's annual Chief Constable's report confirmed, conviction rates in connection with offences like burglary are alarmingly low.
In some neighbourhoods, it has been reported that only one break-in in 20 results in a conviction before the courts.
Crimes of this nature are notoriously hard to prevent, but the presence of officers on the ground can only be reassuring.
District policing partnership boards are in a position to influence how resources are allocated and need full support as they go about their job.
A range of issues still need to be resolved over policing but events can be seen to be moving firmly in the right direction.
