Department of Home Affairs
268 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 29.1%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Home Affairs reveal an authority that is highly transparent regarding its own administrative spending and prison operational policies, yet structurally fragmented when it comes to policing data. A clear pattern emerges where the DHA readily discloses financial details, such as the £4.20 daily prison food cost (921153), the lack of Manx-made bread in prisons (1252086), and the specifics of fire safety self-regulation (415933). However, the department frequently acts as a gatekeeper rather than a data holder for law enforcement, consistently responding with 'Information not held' to queries about crime statistics, traffic accidents, and arrest numbers, directing requesters to the separate Isle of Man Constabulary (e.g., 540837, 1049662). This creates a transparency gap where the public can see the cost of running the prison but struggles to get a unified picture of police activity.
Key Cases
Case 377143 — This case is notable for addressing a sensitive human rights issue: the lack of a specific policy for transgender and gender-fluid prisoners, revealing that care is managed via individual plans rather than standardized protocol, which raises questions about consistency in treatment.
Case 1294977 — A critical disclosure during the pandemic, this case confirmed that 24 individuals were sentenced to custody for breaching emergency regulations, providing concrete evidence of the severity of the government's enforcement strategy during the crisis.
Case 415933 — This case exposed a significant regulatory gap in fire safety, revealing that the system relies heavily on self-regulation with minimal prosecutions, challenging the public's assumption of active enforcement for flat and licensed premises safety.
Case 927918 — Regarding the ITV programme 'The Best Little Prison in Britain', the DHA refused to release most internal documents, citing they were 'reasonably accessible' via Hansard. This highlights the tension between media scrutiny and the department's interpretation of public availability exemptions.
Case 2005465 — This request provided a comprehensive breakdown of resignations and workforce statistics within the Prison & Probation Service, offering rare insight into staff retention and the internal stability of the correctional system over a three-year period.
Related FOI Stories
Prison Operations, Welfare, and Procurement — #377143, #379735, #415636, #636965, #709665
Fire Safety Enforcement and Emergency Response — #415933, #356127, #361209, #743265, #762066
Policing Data Fragmentation and Jurisdictional Deflection — #413642, #373633, #445035, #540837, #575339
Pandemic Enforcement and Emergency Powers — #1277345, #1293345, #1294977, #1354141, #1601449
Government Property and Financial Transparency — #379238, #378340, #378936, #379240, #451740
All (268)
Information not held (103) ·
All information sent (78) ·
Some information sent but not all held (48) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (17) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (12) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (3) ·
Not upheld (3) ·
Repeated request (2) ·
Not required to fulfill request (2) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | Civil Defence | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought the total spending on new Civil Defence vehicles since 2022 and a detailed fleet list. The Department of Home Affairs provided the fleet inventory but stated they do not hold spending data, advising the requester to contact the Department of Infrastructure. | ||
| 2026-02-03 | Correspondence between Dept of Home Affairs and UK Ministry of Justice | Information not held |
| A request was made for correspondence between the Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs and the UK Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 since February 2025. The authority responded that no such information is held, confirming there has been no correspondence on this matter. | ||
| 2026-01-29 | Defibrillators in emergency vehicles | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding the number of emergency vehicles and defibrillators in the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service fleet, along with their usage policy. The authority disclosed that there are 37 emergency vehicles and 15 defibrillators, noting that while there is no specific policy, defibrillators are standard on first response vehicles. | ||
| 2025-12-29 | Cost of reports | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the costs paid to the UK Prison and Probation Ombudsman for investigating two deaths in an Isle of Man prison in May 2023. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed a total expenditure of £90,588.79, including invoices for clinical reviews and recovery payments, though the response was marked as partially exempt. | ||
| 2025-12-23 | Isle of Man Prison Team Based Self Rostering Scheme (TBSR) survey | All information sent |
| The requester sought the survey questions, answers, and the identity of the surveyor regarding the Isle of Man Prison's Team Based Self Rostering (TBSR) scheme to verify claims made by the Governor. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed all requested information, revealing that while staff liked TBSR, they felt it was not working due to staffing shortages, and confirmed the survey was conducted by an independent external officer. | ||
| 2025-12-09 | Operation Talla and covid | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Home Affairs to confirm if the Isle of Man Constabulary adhered to 'Operation Talla' regarding Midazolam and COVID vaccine evidence, or if a specific meeting with the British Army discussed it. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information, noting that the Constabulary ran its own separate COVID operation. | ||
| 2025-11-28 | Immigration work visas for retail and hospitality jobs | Information not held |
| A request was made for a breakdown of immigration work visas issued for retail and hospitality sectors on the Isle of Man from 2020 to present, including countries of origin. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Treasury instead. | ||
| 2025-11-17 | Calculation of prisoner leaving dates | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the full calculation system used to determine prisoner release dates, but the Department of Home Affairs refused to provide it directly, stating the information is already reasonably accessible via the Custody Act 1995 and Custody Rules 2015. | ||
| 2025-11-06 | Drone incidents at Isle of Man Prison | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for details on drone incidents, seizures, and smuggled items at Isle of Man Prison between 2020 and 2025, but the Department of Home Affairs refused to disclose any information. | ||
| 2025-10-31 | government/police contract | All information sent |
| The requester questioned the delay in issuing a tender for Vehicle Recovery Services, alleging unfairness to potential contractors. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the tender is currently in its four-week Invitation to Tender stage and had already attracted interest from four organizations. | ||
| 2025-10-06 | Isle of Man Law Society quarterly meeting agendas/attachments/minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for agendas, attachments, and minutes of quarterly meetings between the Department of Home Affairs and the Isle of Man Law Society from 2019 to the present. The authority disclosed informal notes from 2023 to 2025 but withheld earlier records and specific details citing exemptions for public business and personal information. | ||
| 2025-10-06 | Use of Prison Cubes | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on non-day release inmates occupying prison cubes and details on their management; the authority disclosed that no such occupancy data is recorded but provided context on the unit's purpose and referenced previous FOI responses. | ||
| 2025-09-30 | Isle Of Man Prison | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the maximum occupancy and current inmate population of the Isle of Man Prison. The authority disclosed that the prison's maximum capacity is 165 and it currently holds 147 inmates. | ||
| 2025-09-30 | AFA Fines and Charging | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service's charging policy for false Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) callouts. The authority disclosed the full 'User Pays Agreement' structure, including standard rates, public holiday surcharges, and escalating fees for properties with multiple false alarms. | ||
| 2025-09-09 | Fire Service Cardiac Arrests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of 'Fire Cardiac' jobs logged in the iNet system for 2025 to date. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed a search result of 121 entries but clarified that this figure includes duplicates and stood-down incidents, making it an inaccurate representation of actual responses. | ||
| 2025-09-02 | Freedom of Information Request - Mental Health Service Improv | Information not held |
| A request for documentation on mental health services in the Isle of Man Prison between 2019 and 2025 was partially refused because the Department of Home Affairs does not hold specific mental health policies or staffing data, noting that existing custody forms do not define service users as having mental health issues. | ||
| 2025-08-28 | Foreign national inmates at Jurby Prison | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for detailed monthly statistics on foreign national inmates at Jurby Prison over the last five years, including demographics, detention status, and offence types. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed general gender and crime category statistics but refused the specific foreign national data, stating it is not recorded for statistical purposes. | ||
| 2025-08-27 | Prison | All information sent |
| The requester asked for 10-year re-offending statistics for prisoners released from Jurby Prison between 2015 and 2025. The Department of Home Affairs responded by providing the requested data in an attached document. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | Ref FOI 3415754 Prison listening devices | Information not held |
| The requester asked for official notes and statistics regarding interviews related to a previous FOI request about prison listening devices. The Department of Home Affairs responded that no such information is held as searches revealed no recorded interviews were conducted. | ||
| 2025-07-31 | Daily Operations Meeting Notes | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for Daily Operations Meeting Notes and correspondence regarding working agreements at the prison between 2016 and 2023 was refused by the Department of Home Affairs. The authority determined that fulfilling the request would require substantial compilation and collation of over 1,800 documents, which is not required under the Freedom of Information Act. | ||
| 2025-07-28 | Isle of Man Prison | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on the cessation of off-island prison training and monthly control and restraint staffing levels since 2020. The authority confirmed off-island training stopped in 2018 and could not provide historical correspondence, while disclosing that no mandated staffing levels exist and providing KPI data for staff up-to-date with training. | ||
| 2025-07-09 | Prison officer retention | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of prison officers who joined and left the Isle of Man Prison over the past six years. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that data for 2020-2025 is available in a previous FOI response, while data for 2019 was provided as an attached document. | ||
| 2025-07-08 | Road Traffic Collisions at Church Bends since 2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Parish of Malew and Santan requested detailed statistics on road traffic collisions at Church Bends since 2020, but the Department of Home Affairs stated it does not hold the specific data required to fulfill the request. | ||
| 2025-07-01 | Fire Service Cardiac & Cars | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on cardiac arrest responses and details regarding unmarked fire service vehicles. The authority disclosed the number and purpose of unmarked vehicles but refused to provide cardiac arrest statistics as it would require creating new records. | ||
| 2025-06-30 | Freedom of Information Request - Intrusive Surveillance Warrants Issue | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the number of intrusive surveillance warrants authorized in 2024 and details on applications and approvals. The Department of Home Affairs withheld the information, citing an exemption because the data is scheduled for future publication in the Surveillance Commissioner's annual report. | ||
| 2025-06-30 | Isle of Man prison staffing, inmates and issues | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Home Affairs provided annual inmate population figures from 2020 to 2024 and details on a new wing's occupancy, but refused to provide monthly breakdowns of violence, injuries, and lockdowns as the data does not exist in the requested format. | ||
| 2025-06-26 | Work carried out by offenders who have been given community service | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on the number of offenders on community service and the specific work carried out in the last 12 months. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the total number of offenders and general categories of work but refused to provide specific project details, citing that compiling such data would require creating new information. | ||
| 2025-05-22 | PFAS-containing fire fighting foams | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding the historical and current use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams on the Isle of Man. The authority responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2025-04-09 | Isle of Man prison staffing, inmates and issues | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Home Affairs responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding Isle of Man prison staffing levels and turnover from 2020 to May 2025, providing detailed monthly headcount and churn data while withholding information on bullying complaints, contracted hours, and length of service. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | Cost and reason for private number plates | Repeated request |
| The requester asked for the cost, quantity, and justification for private 999 number plates used by the Isle of Man Fire Service over the past 10 years. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that the plates are a long-standing tradition rather than a strict necessity, but withheld specific cost and quantity data as that information is held by the Department of Infrastructure. | ||
| 2025-03-25 | Resettlement Day Release | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a five-year record detailing the destination of the 20% wage deduction taken by the prison from RDR contracts. The Department of Home Affairs provided a partial transaction list but withheld specific personal data and the identities of local suppliers due to exemptions. | ||
| 2025-03-20 | Percentages | Information not held |
| The requester asked for night shift statistics for Port Security supervisors over six years and details on percentage payments over 20 years, but the Department of Home Affairs stated it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2025-03-11 | Prison | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for information regarding the Isle of Man Prison's design capacity, current population, and the use of Porto cabin cells was partially fulfilled. The Department of Home Affairs provided specific statistics on capacity and population but exempted details on cabin facilities, directing the requester to public inspection reports instead. | ||
| 2025-02-11 | Family Court Welfare Complaints | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for the number of complaints against Family Court Welfare Officers since 2015, but the Department of Home Affairs refused to provide a comprehensive dataset as it would require creating new information. However, the authority voluntarily disclosed specific complaint counts for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. | ||
| 2024-12-31 | Settlement Agreements | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics and templates regarding Settlement Agreements issued by the Department of Home Affairs between September 2021 and January 2025. The authority responded that no such information is held for non-Public Service Commission staff, while noting that PSC staff and the IOM Constabulary fall under separate jurisdictions. | ||
| 2024-12-11 | Prison food | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for the Christmas menu and cost per prisoner for inmates at the Isle of Man Prison. The Department of Home Affairs determined the request did not need to be fulfilled because the information was already accessible via a previous FOI response. | ||
| 2024-11-29 | Prisoners Christmas meals and the prices | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the Christmas dinner menu and cost breakdown for inmates at the Isle of Man Prison. The authority provided the menu and confirmed dietary accommodations but refused to disclose costs as the data is not centrally collated and creating it would require new analysis. | ||
| 2024-11-18 | MT Buyout | Information not held |
| A request was made for all correspondence held by the Home Affairs Minister regarding Manx Telecom's offer for a government buyout. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2024-11-11 | Defibrillators onboard Police Vehicles and Fire Appliances | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on defibrillators in Police and Fire vehicles; the Department of Home Affairs disclosed that Fire Appliances carry Lifepak CR Plus and Phillips Heartstart models but stated they do not hold information regarding Police Vehicles as the Constabulary is a separate authority. | ||
| 2024-11-11 | Prohibited Steps Order | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on Prohibited Steps Orders and child removal cases over the last 15 years, but the Department of Home Affairs refused to provide the data as it is not centrally collated. | ||
| 2024-11-04 | Accidents/Injuries along the area of Castletown Beach Sea Wall/Defence | Information not held |
| A request was made for records of accidents or injuries along the Castletown Beach Sea Wall and access paths since its construction. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Castletown Commissioners instead. | ||
| 2024-10-31 | Request for Information | Information not held |
| 2024-10-21 | Chief Constable Awards | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the costs of hosting the Chief Constable Awards over the last five years, including venue and catering. The authority responded that the information is not held because the event is organized by the Isle of Man Constabulary, a separate public authority. | ||
| 2024-10-15 | Economic crime unit | Information not held |
| A request for information regarding the Economic Crime Unit's asset confiscations, staffing, and accountability was submitted to the Department of Home Affairs. The authority responded that it does not hold the information because the unit is actually located within the Isle of Man Constabulary, a separate public authority. | ||
| 2024-09-25 | Cases of People Trafficking and Immigration Fraud | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for statistics on suspected immigration fraud and people trafficking incidents on the Isle of Man over the last two years. The authority responded that it does not hold this specific information and advised the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary instead. | ||
| 2024-09-24 | Background checks on foreign nationals | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Home Affairs how background checks are conducted on foreign nationals invited by Locate IOM. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and advised redirecting the request to the Department for Enterprise or the Treasury. | ||
| 2024-09-09 | Temporary Workers Employed via Agencies | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of temporary workers employed by the Department of Home Affairs via third-party agencies in 2023 and 2024, broken down by grade. The authority disclosed that four temporary workers were employed across specific divisions, noting that agency staff do not hold formal PSC grades but align with them. | ||
| 2024-09-03 | Community policing replaced with reactive policing | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for data on policing strategy changes, firearms units, knife crime statistics, and associated costs. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and advised the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary directly. | ||
| 2024-09-02 | FoI Costs | Information not held |
| 2024-08-29 | TT & MGP fire cover | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for tender details and costs for fire cover at the TT and MGP events over the past five years. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that the Fire Service does not tender for these services but provided a total cost of £128,000, while directing the requester to public websites for procurement policies. | ||
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