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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-23 | Workers within the PAPs who have resigned between 1/9/2018 & 23/9/2021 | All information sent |
| The Department of Home Affairs responded to a request for data on resignations and workforce statistics within the Isle of Man Prison & Probation Service between September 2018 and September 2021. The authority disclosed all requested information, providing breakdowns of resignations by gender and year, as well as detailed workforce numbers by pay band and employment status. | ||
| 2021-09-13 | Property ownership - Private and individual | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on residential property ownership by individuals, couples, and businesses on the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2021-09-10 | Details required of Vehicle Recovery contract for the Police | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for details on the Vehicle Recovery contract tender process and agreement for the Isle of Man Constabulary was initially rejected by the Department of Home Affairs as they did not hold the information, but a subsequent response provided the tender advertisement dates and attached the service specification. | ||
| 2021-09-09 | police rent and housing allowance fixed amounts | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for historical police rent and housing allowance figures from 1992 to 2021 and the number of current recipients. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the 2021 allowance amount and recipient count but withheld historical data because the Freedom of Information Act only applies to information created after October 2011. | ||
| 2021-09-06 | Data relating to speeding enforcement carried out by SNPT | Information not held |
| The requester asked for specific speed records and enforcement outcomes for eight drivers stopped by the Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team on August 31, 2021. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and directed the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary directly. | ||
| 2021-09-03 | MHK's Business/Shares Interests | Information not held |
| A request was made for a list of shares and business interests held by MHK and civil servants, including purchase dates. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held and cannot be found after reasonable steps. | ||
| 2021-07-27 | Coronavirus arrests and sentences since 2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for statistics on coronavirus arrests, juvenile involvement, custodial sentences, and fixed penalty notices in the Isle of Man from March 2020 to July 2021 was partially fulfilled. The Department of Home Affairs provided data for the period up to March 2021 and total custodial sentences, but withheld information for April to July 2021 and juvenile sentence counts as it is held by other authorities. | ||
| 2021-06-16 | Integrity of electronically stored Court Judgment Originals | Information not held |
| 2021-06-08 | P50 Fire Extinguishers | All information sent |
| The requestor asked for all correspondence regarding P50 fire extinguishers, specifically emails involving the Isle of Man Fire Service. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that all requested information was sent, with personal data redacted for privacy. | ||
| 2021-06-03 | everbridge | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2021-05-10 | Information regarding assaults on Licensees and their staff | Information not held |
| 2021-05-04 | Children reported knocked down by a vehcile in Cedar Grove Pulrose | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on children knocked down by vehicles in Cedar Grove, Pulrose over the last 10 years. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and directed the requester to the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2021-04-23 | Covid breaches travel | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the number of individuals who breached 21-day isolation regulations after traveling from the UK. The authority responded that the information is not held by the department and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Constabulary or Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2021-04-23 | Covid travel to Island breached | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of travelers apprehended for breaching 21-day isolation regulations on the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Constabulary or Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2021-03-15 | small claims court | Information not held |
| A requester asked the Department of Home Affairs if a specific individual had been charged in small claims court for non-payment to tradesmen. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested it may be held by the General Registry. | ||
| 2021-03-10 | Information about traffic incidents/accidents on Poortown Road Peel | Information not held |
| The requester asked for six years of traffic collision data and reports on dangerous driving on Poortown Road, Peel. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and directed the requester to the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2021-03-10 | Sexual Harrassment complaints | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on sexual harassment complaints received by the Department of Home Affairs between 2015 and 2020, including demographic breakdowns. The authority responded that no such complaints were received during that period and noted that the Isle of Man Constabulary is a separate entity for such inquiries. | ||
| 2021-03-04 | Court Welfare Officer ("CWO") Reports to Court re Play Therapy | Not upheld |
| The requester sought statistics on Court Welfare Officer recommendations for play therapy and sibling engagement for 2019 and 2020. The Department of Home Affairs responded that records are only retained for six months, providing limited data for that specific period instead of the requested years. | ||
| 2021-01-22 | Prison Adjudication System | All information sent |
| The Department of Home Affairs responded to a request for monthly statistics on the Isle of Man prison system from February to December 2020, disclosing data on prisoner numbers, adjudications, legal aid, and transfer applications. | ||
| 2021-01-08 | Coronavirus arrests and sentences in 2020. | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for statistics on arrests, custodial sentences, and fixed penalty notices for Coronavirus Regulation breaches in the Isle of Man during 2020. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the number of custodial sentences but stated it did not hold data on arrests or fixed penalty notices, directing the requester to other authorities. | ||
| 2020-12-14 | Prosecutions | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on court appearances and sentencing for breaches of Emergency Powers Regulations since March 2020. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Court General Registry instead. | ||
| 2020-11-24 | Provision of Court ordered probation services | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding statistics on court-ordered alcohol awareness courses, including pending attendees, past completion rates, and future planning. The authority disclosed that 255 people are currently required to attend, 32 people have attended 3 courses since November 2019, and 4 courses are planned for the following 12 months. | ||
| 2020-11-23 | Civil defence | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of Civil Defence call-outs over the past three years and whether any lives were saved. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the total number of call-outs but stated it is not possible to quantify the number of lives saved directly resulting from their intervention. | ||
| 2020-11-23 | Criminal Investigation Involving Isle of Man Judiciary | All information sent |
| 2020-11-18 | Number of individuals in self-isolation | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the number of individuals in self-isolation on the Isle of Man as of November 18, 2020. The authority responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2020-11-03 | Explosive device disposal | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2020-11-02 | FOI request for foundation evidence | Information not held |
| A request was made for scientific and legal evidence justifying the classification and control of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the requested information is not held by the department. | ||
| 2020-10-22 | Freedom Of Information Request, Company Memorandum | Information not held |
| A request was made for the Memorandum of Articles of Association for the Isle of Man Courts of Justice, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2020-10-22 | Freedom Of Information Request. Company Memorandum | Information not held |
| A request was made for the Memorandum of Articles of Association for the Isle of Man Courts of Justice, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2020-10-08 | Key Workers | Information not held |
| The requester asked for copies of entry certificates issued to Key Workers under specific coronavirus regulations. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information because they do not issue such certificates. | ||
| 2020-09-16 | Request for information regarding Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for data on employee numbers and Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) policies, balances, and costs. The authority disclosed staff counts and TOIL balances for specific divisions but withheld information on approval processes, average accrual times, and financial equivalents as it was not held or required derivation. | ||
| 2020-09-14 | Travel requests | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for statistics on travel requests, exemptions, and border control data for non-residents and residents. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2020-09-09 | Senior Officers in the Fire Service in GUS | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics regarding Fire Service senior officers' pension contributions, lump sum payments, and monthly pension receipts. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held by them and suggested contacting the PSPA instead. | ||
| 2020-09-07 | Family Court Statistics | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Home Affairs responded to a request for Family Court statistics from 2018 to 2020, disclosing data on completed residency disputes, shared care requests, self-representation, and psychological assessments. Several specific queries regarding gender breakdowns of resident parents, legal aid funding details, and advocate performance were refused as the authority does not hold this data. | ||
| 2020-08-12 | Southern African population on the IOM | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the number of Southern African residents on the Isle of Man, but the authority responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2020-08-11 | Data Protection Officer and Subject Access Request | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the name and contact details of the Data Protection Officer for the Isle of Man Probation Service and a specific Subject Access Request form. The Department of Home Affairs responded that no specific form is required and provided the DPO email address, while noting that some information was already reasonably accessible online. | ||
| 2020-08-11 | Organisation Chart | All information sent |
| A request was made for an organisation chart of the Isle of Man Probation Services including reporting lines to the Department of Home Affairs. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant. | ||
| 2020-08-11 | Calculation of Release Dates | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the open calculation sheet used by the Prison Service to determine release dates for offenders sentenced between 12 months and 4 years. The Department of Home Affairs responded by sending the requested information in full. | ||
| 2020-07-15 | Comis Hotel | Information not held |
| A request was made for risk assessments regarding the use of Comis Hotel as a detention center for repatriated residents, specifically concerning vulnerable groups. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2020-07-13 | Sexual Offenders Statistics | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics on sexual offenders, including registration numbers, re-offending rates, and UK offender transfers to the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the requested information is not held. | ||
| 2020-07-03 | Total persons jailed for Covid offences. | Information not held |
| A request was made for the total number of persons jailed for breaching Emergency Powers Regulations 2020 by the end of the State of Emergency. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the General Registry instead. | ||
| 2020-05-19 | Data Protection Policy and Requests -Specific to Prison and Probation | All information sent |
| 2020-05-19 | Short Term Detainee Licence Conditions Issue | All information sent |
| The requester asked for policies and procedures regarding licence conditions for short-term detainees in the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded by stating the information is publicly available and provided a direct link to the relevant webpage. | ||
| 2020-05-18 | Total persons sentenced to custody for breach of Emergency Powers Regs | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought the total number of persons sentenced to custody for breaching Emergency Powers Regulations 2020. The authority disclosed a corrected figure of 24 sentenced individuals but stated it does not hold data regarding juvenile defendants. | ||
| 2020-05-15 | Arrest and sentencing of Juveniles for Covid-19 offences in 2020. | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on juvenile arrests and custodial sentences for breaching 2020 Emergency Powers Regulations in the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and advised the requester to contact the Department of Health and Social Care instead. | ||
| 2020-05-14 | Number of defendants remanded in custody for mental health problems | Information not held |
| A request was made for the number of defendants remanded in custody as a place of safety due to mental health problems in 2018 and 2019. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Constabulary, while clarifying that 'remand to a place of safety' is not a valid legal procedure. | ||
| 2020-05-04 | Number of detainees on/been on Isolation wing at IOM Prison | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on detainees passing through and currently remaining on the IOM Prison Isolation wing introduced in March 2020. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that all requested information was sent, though the specific numerical data is not included in the provided text. | ||
| 2020-04-30 | Custodial sentences arising from breach of Covid-19 Regulations | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for statistics on custodial sentences, arrests, and fixed penalty notices related to breaches of Covid-19 Emergency Powers Regulations. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information, suggesting the General Registry and Isle of Man Constabulary as alternative sources. | ||
| 2020-04-09 | Police injury awards. | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on former Isle of Man police officers receiving injury awards and related reviews, but the Department of Home Affairs stated they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2020-03-30 | Bread | All information sent |
| The request asked whether the Isle of Man prison purchases locally made bread and details about its supply chain. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that no Manx bread is bought; instead, frozen bread made by Fletchers is purchased from Robinsons. | ||
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