The Isle of Man Constabulary is tackling an increasingly complex range of vulnerability and public protection matters as part of its efforts to keep people safe.
While the Manx force has driven down recorded crime to a level last witnessed in 1970, the operational demands on its services remain as high as ever.
The Chief Constable’s annual report for 2015-16 highlights the many successes achieved by the police and underlines the drive to create a culture of continuous improvement within the organisation. It also sets out the challenges ahead and the difficult decisions to be addressed regarding the allocation of the Constabulary’s limited resources.
The report, to be laid before the July sitting of Tynwald, reflects a year of considerable operational achievement, with the number of crimes recorded in the Isle of Man falling below 2,000 for the first time in more than 45 years.
However, Chief Constable Gary Roberts says his officers should not be judged purely on statistics, with crime now accounting for just one fifth of overall demand. Increasingly the Constabulary’s role focuses on broader aspects of public safety, including dealing with people who are mentally ill or who are dependent on alcohol or drugs.
In his annual report, the Chief Constable says the task of protecting vulnerable people has continued to grow in scale and complexity, with the nature of modern policing evolving to reflect changes in society.
One significant change identified in the report is a rise in cases of sexual abuse, including the reporting of historical offences.
The Chief Constable says: ‘This suggests that victims feel sufficiently confident to come forward and place their trust in us. Reporting of high-profile cases in the UK has helped in this regard, but so has the excellent local media coverage of Isle of Man cases. This includes those where lengthy prison sentences were handed out to offenders who damaged the lives of vulnerable young people, sometimes as long as 40 years ago.’
The report also points to the demands placed on the Constabulary by people who are mentally ill, with about 20% of officers’ time spent dealing with incidents involving mental health. However, there is optimism that positive progress can be achieved in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care’s mental health strategy.
The Constabulary is maintaining a strong focus on proactive work to combat the importation of drugs and is also striving to meet international challenges in respect of financial crime and money laundering, cybercrime and the protection of our borders. Domestically, work is taking place to introduce a comprehensive road safety strategy and officers are supporting efforts to re-energise the Island’s approach to the misuse of drugs and alcohol.
Juggling resources to meet competing demands while maintaining the highly-effective neighbourhood policing model and a strong community presence means that stark choices have to be made. The Chief Constable says: ‘There are times when I have to prioritise the investigation of sexual abuse over stopping drugs from coming into the Island, but that is, sadly, modern reality.’
Overall, the annual report paints a positive picture of the Constabulary as a model public service with ‘a proud, dedicated workforce that is driven by a deeply embedded set of values and a shared desire to keep the Isle of Man as safe as possible.’
In addition to achieving the lowest number of recorded crimes for more than 45 years, the Isle of Man Constabulary recently became the first police force in the world to attain the Investors in People Champion status. Confidence in the police remains high, with a public satisfaction rating of 89%, the number of complaints fell to its lowest level for more than 20 years and the number of days lost through officer sickness reduced by a third during 2015-16.
The Chief Constable says that succession planning, particularly within the senior ranks, the recruitment of new officers, and staff development are among the biggest organisational challenges facing the Constabulary. On a positive note, the report says the greater use of technology will have a hugely beneficial impact on policing and will improve the service provided to the public.
The Chief Constable said:
‘The Constabulary is not perfect, but I believe the Island should be proud of what it does, how it goes about its work and how it is creating a culture of continuous improvement. The better the Constabulary, the safer the Island.’
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK added:
‘The Chief Constable’s annual report pulls no punches and offers a very honest assessment of policing in the Isle of Man today. While there are undoubtedly many challenges ahead, people can be reassured that they are being served by a committed, high-performing and caring team of professionals.’
