HRP drug audit finds record keeping problems within force

By Chris Halef

HALIFAX – Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP have released details of a drug exhibit audit conducted after a police officer was charged with theft, breach of trust and obstruction of justice in 2015.

It found inaccurate recording of seized drugs and money in two separate audits that were conducted.

Superintendent Jim Perrin says out of approximately 10,000 exhibits in the drug and money vaults, 500 exhibits formed the sample set for the initial.

In one drug vault, 90 per cent of the evidence was not where it was supposed to be, according to Perrin, who said a further May 2016 review found that number had dropped to 52 per cent.

In a second drug vault, 24 per cent of the evidence was not in the right location, while the second audit showed that number dropped to 12 per cent.

In the money vault, 55 per cent of the evidence was not located where it was supposed to be, that number dropped to 32 per cent upon its second audit.

Perrin says a total of 70 items need to be located at the moment but he does not believe these missing exhibits will have any effect on court cases.

“If we have a court case with missing evidence, I’m confident I would have heard about it because our officers would go to court and be called to the stand to tender exhibits, and there wouldn’t be any exhibits to tender,” Perrin said.

“That would equate to a crisis. Until an allegation like that comes forward, I don’t think any court cases have been impacted.”

According to Perrin, a number of staff are working full time to track down the missing items, and he said there are a number of possible reasons that may explain why they’ve been misplaced.

“It could be misplaced in the property room, it could be in court, or it could have been destroyed legally. The audit didn’t look into the files to see where else it could be, it’s just a snapshot,” he said.

The audit also found currency is often recorded inaccurately in their records keeping system, policies are not being followed, Drug Unit training needs to be standardized, drug vaults need to be modernized and staff don’t have the time to devote to exhibits.

HRP’s Oversight & Risk Management Unit conducted the drug exhibit audit between mid-June and November 2015.

Senior staff with HRP say they have reviewed the audit and are prioritizing its 34 recommendations.

Perrin says he hopes to have all recommendations prioritized by the end of the calender year.

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