THE new Chief Constable has said the PSNI "will take on" the UVF "using all the powers" at its disposal.
Simon Byrne was speaking in the aftermath of the loyalist marching season and Eleventh night bonfires, including one at Avoniel Leisure Centre in east Belfast that resulted in a stand off between loyalists and Belfast City Council.
Police had told councillors that members of the UVF were involved with the bonfire.
The controversial pyre beside the east Belfast leisure centre was lit on Thursday night after the council gave up on its efforts to remove it when a contractor pulled out after threatening graffiti appeared near the site.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Byrne denied allegations that police had worked alongside known members of the UVF saying: "there are no facts that support the notion".
He also said his officers were "not in cahoots with the UVF, despite some of the inference".
"We have got things like the paramilitary task force, and other agencies, to take on terrorism and criminality," he added.
"What we saw the other day was a considered and cynical attempt to put us, as in the PSNI, into a dispute between communities."
Mr Byrne said the paramilitary group were: "prepared to put women and children in front of a bonfire in the expectation" the PSNI was going to appear in large numbers.
"I think it was a cynical ploy and I condemn it," he added.
The East Belfast Cultural Collective released a statement saying: "The comments of the Chief Constable insinuates that these persons should not have peacefully stood in defence of their culture, but rather should have went home and instead allowed the bonfire to become a battleground with men guarding it rather than those it actually belonged to, namely the women and children of Avoniel.
"We want the Chief Constable to provide an assessment as to whether loyalists, from Sunday onwards, played a positive or negative role in preventing disorder breaking out in east Belfast. We would hope the public and private assessments will match up".
The names of a number of people, alleged to be contractors hired by the council to remove bonfire material, remained painted on two walls in east Belfast last night.
While one name was painted over others remained visible on two locations close to Avoniel leisure centre .
The PSNI has said removing the graffiti is not a function for police.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "Officers are in ongoing liaison with the property owners and with Belfast City Council in an attempt to ensure the removal of the offending graffiti at the earliest opportunity".
A police investigation has been launched into how the name of the contractor, which was known to only a handful of people, was leaked to loyalists.
