A report released by the Washington, D.C. inspector general finds that the Metropolitan Police Department’s process for collecting crime statistics experienced a “prolonged, systemic breakdown” in its internal control system. The review looks at how the department compiles and manages the figures it reports. The inspector general’s findings come after accusations by the federal government that crime statistics may have been manipulated. The sources describe the issue as a failure of internal controls rather than a single incident, pointing to problems in the department’s procedures and oversight. The report was made public on Tuesday and focuses on the police department’s statistics collection system and the controls intended to ensure accuracy and integrity. The city’s inspector general is presented as examining the department’s process in response to the federal allegations. Overall, the reporting indicates the inspector general concludes the breakdown was systemic and sustained, and that the internal control failures require attention to restore reliable reporting of crime data.