Poor storage conditions and overcrowding in exhibit rooms at Valelevu Police Station continue to pose risks to police evidence management, according to the 2024 Audit Report for the General Administration Sector tabled in Parliament.
The report highlighted recurring issues relating to the storage of exhibits at the station, despite earlier concerns previously raised by auditors.
Under police procedures, exhibits are required to be stored in chronological order in secure exhibit rooms, while records must indicate the location of any exhibit stored elsewhere.
However, auditors who conducted site visits on April 13, 2023 and January 24, 2024 noted several shortcomings at the Valelevu Police Station exhibit room.
The audit found that exhibit rooms used at the station were “very small and congested”, while exhibits were not systematically arranged in chronological order.
Auditors also observed instances where articles were stacked on top of one another, increasing the risk of damage or loss of evidence.
In one case, a storage container used for exhibits had a jammed lock and could not be opened during the audit inspection.
A follow-up visit conducted on April 24, 2025 found there had been no significant improvements to the storage conditions.
Although the Fiji Police Force had since installed racks in the exhibit room, the report noted that exhibits were still not systematically arranged in chronological order.
The report warned that inadequate storage space continued to create challenges in maintaining organised and secure exhibit rooms.
“This can lead to exhibits being damaged or misplaced,” the report stated.
The Auditor-General recommended that the Fiji Police Force ensure all exhibits are properly stored in safe and secure rooms at all times and that exhibit rooms remain clean, tidy and organised chronologically.
In response, management acknowledged the recommendations and confirmed that racks had been purchased and installed in the exhibit room at Valelevu Police Station.
