The focus must now turn to providing the police with a computer system that will meet their current and future requirements, Labour police spokesperson George Hawkins said.

"A settlement out of court between the Crown and IBM has avoided a long and potentially very costly legal battle.

"Sir William Birch says the cost to the taxpayer now adds up to $82.5 million. That is still far too much for a computer system that is little more than the Wanganui Computer with Windows.

"The incoming Labour Government will find the most cost-effective way of adding the 'bells and whistles' to INCIS stage one, to give the police the crime-fighting tool they need.

"The National Government's complete mishandling of the INCIS project has not been 'made good' by the settlement with IBM," George Hawkins said.

"The police and the public have suffered badly as a result of the extra money poured into INCIS. Anti-gang surveillance equipment wasn't purchased, the police vehicle replacement budget was more than halved, there was less money for maintaining police stations and replacement stations were deferred.

"National also claimed the INCIS system could be sold overseas for $40 to $50 million dollars. What a joke.

"The recommendations from the select committee inquiry still stand.

"IT projects should be smaller and less complex, broken down into discrete parts and favour "off-the-shelf" software applications where possible.

"The monitoring of public sector IT projects must be more robust and more transparent.

"With the threat of court action lifted, there must also be an inquiry into who was ultimately accountable for the INCIS project debacle," Mr Hawkins said.

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