From CTV News:

The Canadian Press

Date: Thursday Jun. 9, 2011 10:25 AM ET

OTTAWA — Delays in updating vital criminal record information have increased significantly because of mismanagement and funding shortfalls for national police services, says the federal spending watchdog.

In a report tabled Thursday, interim auditor general John Wiersema said the RCMP -- which administers a slate of crucial police services -- was scrambling to find enough money to keep them afloat.

Wiersema's audit focused on four areas: forensic laboratory services, the national DNA data bank, the federal criminal intelligence service, and a computerized system for running fingerprint and criminal record checks.

Despite a commitment to do so, the RCMP has not taken satisfactory steps to act on recommendations to improve police services in three previous audit reports dating from 2000, Wiersema concluded.

"We are concerned with the lack of progress in this area," he said in a statement. "The federal government, working with provincial, territorial and municipal partners, needs to decide which police services should be provided and how they should be delivered and funded."

Backlogs and delays in updating criminal record information had increased to 14 months for English updates and to 36 months for French updates from five months in 2000, he found.

Overall, the outstanding criminal record update backlog had jumped to 1.4 million from 186,000 in 2005-06.

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RCMP struggles to provide services amid funding shortfalls - CTV News