After a total expense of $30 million, CREST looks increasingly like a boondoggle.

And that is just the amount spent on the system. Victoria police have spent extra money on cellphones as a backup system. Since 2003, city officers have been patrolling in pairs -- greatly reducing police presence and increasing costs -- because they feared CREST would fail when a lone officer needed support.

Now, once again, the region's taxpayers are being asked for more money to ensure the system performs to the satisfaction of Victoria police.

Before it was launched, the $17.5-million system was billed as the ultimate solution for the communication woes being encountered by local emergency services. The common platform would allow communication between the region's patchwork of police and fire departments and other emergency responders.

It was supposed to be ready in the spring of 2002. That was delayed to December, then to the following spring. In May 2003 CREST was tested in a mock emergency exercise and performed admirably, we were told -- although officials did note that there were a few "dead spots."

The next month, Victoria police started complaining they could not trust the radio system. By August 2003, the president of the Victoria Police Union was saying CREST was dangerous, unacceptable and not living up to its promises.

The issue was debated. Time dragged on. No one could explain why the contract with Motorola Canada did not include adequate performance guarantees.

By 2007 a solution had supposedly been found: Spend another $6 million to $10 million on the four-year-old system and all would be well. The CREST chairman said the improvements would "absolutely do what's required."

So the work was approved in January 2008 and everything was in place by July. Two months later, there were more reports of the system failing. An officer facing a man with a gun could not communicate with the dispatcher.

Part of the problem has been a process that has seen CREST -- run by a board of representatives from municipalities using the system -- and Victoria each commissioning studies that, unsurprisingly, support their positions. It would have been more useful to agree on one clearly defined study by a contractor acceptable to all parties.

More than a year ago, then solicitor general John van Dongen ordered an audit of the Victoria Police Department and called for it to include a review of CREST. But the Police Services Division decided not to look at CREST because it thought a solution was in the works.

That was a wasted opportunity to provide independent, informed analysis of the system and possible solutions.

Now CREST and police are looking at spending another $15 million to fix the system or using leftover equipment from the 2010 Games.

It's time to halt this process. The Police Services Division should be ordered to provide a report on the system, any problems and the most cost-effective solution before any more money is spent.