Finance probe clears police group

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A Home Office investigation into the National Black Police Association has not found any evidence of financial mismanagement, the body has said.

The government imposed a funding freeze on the group last month because proper accounts had not been filed since 2003.

Auditors have ruled out action against individuals, but made recommendations for the running of the NBPA, an association spokesman said.

He said many of the recommendations had already been implemented.

"We are working with the Home Office to execute the recommendations, many of which have already been implemented," he said.

"We are certain the association will emerge more robust and astute to deal with national strategic issues."

Internal inquiry

The NBPA acts as a support network for more than 10,000 black and ethnic minority police officers in the UK, and also aims to drive recruitment and retention.

A registered charity, it received £180,000 funding last year, mainly from a Home Office grant. But its failure to file properly audited accounts breached Home Office and Charity Commission rules.

In December, the association announced it had launched an internal inquiry to "improve the way financial transactions are decided, recorded and scrutinised".

Home Office minister Tony McNulty said: "I will meet the NBPA cabinet in a month to discuss their progress on implementing the recommendations and we will continue our regular meetings where we discuss a range of issues of concern."