Police launch audit into accounts

POLICE Commissioner David Manning has launched a special audit investigation into the Police Department’s expenditure on certain grants in the interest of restoring transparency, accountability and compliance within the constabulary.
Manning made the announcement at police headquarters in Port Moresby on Monday.
This is one of a number of actions the commissioner has embarked in support of the Government’s focus on ensuring transparency and accountability in the force and to strengthen its command and control mechanisms.
“There have been queries surrounding certain funds allocated to police for specific purposes over the recent past, and it is only fair and proper for everyone and I as the newly appointed police commissioner to call for an independent investigation into these allocations,” Manning said.
“I have formally requested the Department of Finance to assist our internal audit team in this cause. The Finance secretary has positively responded and tasked his internal investigation unit to assist us. Today I am pleased to welcome them on board. They will be working in collaboration with the police internal audit section in handling this matter,” he said.
Manning added that while the constabulary was encountering challenges on all fronts of policing, it was equally important to restore the integrity of the Office of the Commissioner and the constabulary in navigating the wayward.
Manning said he had notified all assistance police commissioners, provincial police commanders and directors at the police budget workshop last week in Port Moresby, and they were expected to strictly comply with the Public Finance Management Act and guidelines that governed the use of public funds.
He said the internal audits were an integral and important part of the organisation but its function had not been fully utilised.