The special report on competency assessment and the effectiveness of the controls carried out by the Police, in order to verify the observance of the measures, which were imposed for the confrontation of the coronavirus pandemic, in order to reduce the cases, the Office of the Auditor General of the Republic published on Thursday.
According to the findings of the report, the Police has taken a very satisfactory step to ensure the observance of the measures, however, the Audit Office also notes some weaknesses in relation to the instructions issued by the Police Headquarters and the police addresses, but also the problems faced by the Authorities in relation to the execution of out-of-court settlements and the effective administration of justice.
According to the Audit Office, from the beginning of the pandemic, in March until November 2020, the instructions issued by the Headquarters to the Police Directorates/Departments were generalized, while noting that the Police carried out increased checks and complaints, during during the periods when the Government had imposed stricter measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, such as a traffic ban, a ban on gatherings, compulsory teleworking, distance education and suspension of operations in companies.
However, according to the Audit Office, during the periods of relaxation and the resumption of business operations, the controls were drastically reduced, with a significant decrease observed in the summer of 2021, where the highest number of cases was recorded.
He also noted that the grievance redressal process is time consuming and complex, resulting in valuable time being wasted by both members of the Police and Legal Officers handling such grievances.
Meanwhile, the Audit Office states that the non-payment of out-of-court settlements results in many cases being taken to the Courts and the issuance of fine warrants, while noting that the problems, in relation to their execution, also concern the effective justice, are recorded over time in the Service Reports and should be addressed by the state “
The Audit Office recommends that as in future cases of similar pandemics or other emergencies, the Police should be constantly vigilant to carry out the necessary checks.
“It should”, he adds, “ensure that checks are sufficient and effective to ensure that the measures imposed by the Government for the management of a pandemic or any other crisis are complied with. “
It also states that its suggestions, aimed at simplifying grievance procedures, as well as its timeless remarks on the effectiveness of the administration of justice, due to the accumulation of fine warrants over time, should be evaluated and appropriate measures taken.
It is noted that the pandemic was officially declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, with the Police having been called to monitor and ensure the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the virus, resulting from the issuance of relevant Decrees, which are issued from time to time by the Minister of Health, on the basis of the Law on Dehydration.
According to the report, the Police, as one of the various bodies that had the obligation to contribute to the implementation of these Decrees, in the context of her other duties, she responded very satisfactorily to what she had to perform, especially considering that she had to deal with an unprecedented situation, which even caused internal problems (members of the force fell ill or were contact contacts). , which made its task difficult.
The main objective of the Audit Office was to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the audits. , conducted by the Police, during the period March 2020 & # 8211; September 2021, to ensure compliance with COVID-19 measures to reduce cases.
Report:
http://www.audit.gov .cy/audit/audit.nsf/annualscg_gr/annualscg_gr? OpenForm
Source: KYPE
