Police officer at former home Haut de la Garenne
There were excavations at the former home Haut de la Garenne
Jersey's government should not have given police a "blank cheque" for the historical child abuse investigation, the home affairs minister has said.
Senator Ian Le Marquand said the police chief, Graham Power, should have kept more control over spending.
Mr Power remains suspended over his alleged mishandling of the inquiry, which focused on the former children's home at Haut de la Garenne.
He has always denied any wrongdoing and will soon retire from the force.
Police in Jersey launched a covert investigation into the Haut de la Garenne site in 2006.
It became public in February 2008 when officers said they had found what was believed to be part of a child's skull.
The responsibility ultimately rests with Graham Power
Senator Ian Le Marquand
At about that time the States of Jersey, led then by Frank Walker, told police there was a blank cheque to meet the mounting costs.
But Senator Le Marquand has now told BBC Jersey: "I think Mr Walker was most unwise to talk about an open chequebook with no questions asked, if he used the latter words.
"But that doesn't take away the responsibility to properly financially manage things and ensure that there is value for money."
However, Mr Walker said: "It wasn't a question of an open chequebook with no questions asked. But legislation certainly should not have restricted or impeded the investigation in any way."
Ultimate responsibility
It was the former deputy chief officer, Lenny Harper, who was in charge of the investigations at Haut de la Garenne. But it was Graham Power who was suspended in November 2008.
"The major decisions on expenditure were made by Mr Harper, that's clear, but that doesn't necessarily exonerate Mr Power from having responsibility for oversight," said Senator Le Marquand.
"The responsibility ultimately rests with Graham Power. He was the chief officer of police and had a duty to exercise independent judgement."
Jersey abuse investigation blank cheque 'was unwise'