The overpayment of salaries and allowances within the Fiji Police Force is one of the major concerns highlighted by the Public Accounts Committee after scrutinizing the Auditor Generals 2006 reports.

The Committee report notes that there were serious problems encountered regarding the overpayment of salaries and allowances for officers who had resigned, retired or disciplined and in relation to payment of allowances relating to the police quarters.

The report notes that there were a number of officers who were not entitled to allowances and inspite of the Auditor Generals recommendations, the Fiji Police failed to recover the overpayment showing a lack of commitment by the department to take on the responsibility of good financial management.

The Accounts Committee also highlights anomalies in the keeping of court exhibits which needs to be seriously addressed by the Police.

It said the problems relating to missing court exhibits as evidence meant that the court cases that required this evidence would be compromised.

The Committee has also raised concerns with the high incidence of motor vehicle accidents in 2006 which numbered 111 as compared to 61 incidents in 2005.

According to the report the Committee was concerned at the blatant disregard for compliance with standing government regulations regarding the use of vehicles.

It said the issue of the use of government vehicles by senior police officers for travelling from home to work and back had been the item of concern in past audit reports and yet the Police continued with the practice and had not made any effort to rectify the situation.