Vanuatu's former ombudsman, Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson, says through neglect and mismanagement the police force is now in disarray.
Mrs Patterson, who is an independent candidate in Thursday's election, says the force never recovered from a period in the 1990's when a civilian with a crominal record was made commissioner.
She says as a result, morale plummeted and political interference increased.
And she says the problems are compounded by the run-down prosecutor's office which has no permanent staff.
Mrs Patterson, who founded Transparency Internatinal Vanuatu, says as far as law and order is concerned, the Comprehensive Reform Programme has not worked.
"so the whole situation I think is that no one has been putting a priority and that has been basically one of the pillars of the good society that has broken down so when you talk about comprehensive reform programme and you look at the principal of national integrity that is developed by Transparency International its like one of the pillars supporting the temple is broken so the house is really leaning at the moment and the CRP is not really working because of that"
Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson
