15 January 2009

Audit of UN Police in UNMIT March 2008

4 March 2008 United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services Internal Audit Division - From the Executive Summary - The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted an audit of the United Nations Police in the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) from July to September 2007. The overall objectives of the audit were to examine the coordination and monitoring mechanisms exercised by the Police Division at Headquarters with the Mission; assess the efficiency and effectiveness of police operations and mandate fulfillment; and identify lessons learned to recommend preventive measures and leading practices. The audit was conducted in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.

UN police operations within UNMIT were generally satisfactory. However, there were some areas that required corrective action and some improvement opportunities, as follows:

A ban had been placed by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on the use of rubber bullets within UNMIT. This had a detrimental impact on the operational effectiveness of the Formed Police Units within the mission in terms of maintenance and control of the security situation. While a temporary exemption was granted to the Mission at the time of unrest, this was not a permanent solution and the review being performed by the DPKO needs to be expedited in order to ensure that UNMIT is ready to face security challenges in the future.

There is a need to revisit the supplemental agreement to the status of forces agreement between the United Nations and the Democratic Republic of East Timor concerning the command responsibility of the UNMIT Police Commissioner over the Timorese National Police to ensure that command and control over the local police force are clarified.

Read the full report on East Timor Law Journal...

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