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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-13 | Data Protection Policy and Procedures | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the Data Protection Policy and Procedures relevant to the Isle of Man Prison and Probationary Services. The Department of Home Affairs responded by sending all requested information, confirming the release of the documents. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Phone call to Control Room | Information not held |
| 2020-03-09 | fuel deliveries | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for details on recent and upcoming fuel and gas deliveries due to concerns over transport restrictions. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2020-02-27 | Number of road traffic incidents Hillberry Road Area | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on road traffic incidents, illegal parking notices, and complaints in the Hillberry Road and Onchan areas over the past five years. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure or the Onchan District Commissioner instead. | ||
| 2020-02-24 | Number of staff | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on remand prisoners, their privileges, work eligibility, and specific vocational training programs. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the number of remand prisoners and their visit privileges but stated that records on remand duration and specific training data were not held. | ||
| 2020-01-27 | UFO Sightings. | Information not held |
| A request was made for information regarding UFO or UAP sightings over and around the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs responded that no such information is held by the authority. | ||
| 2020-01-27 | Isle of Man Fire service call outs and Risk Assessments | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought fire service call-out statistics for the last three years and risk assessments for converted living accommodation at Douglas Fire Station. The authority provided total call-out numbers for all stations and aggregate automated fire alarm data, but refused specific time-based breakdowns due to excessive cost and stated that the risk assessment documents were not held. | ||
| 2020-01-27 | Marina Development | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Home Affairs for details on parties invited to submit proposals for a new marina development and the associated timescales. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2020-01-09 | Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service road traffic collisions | Information not held |
| A request was made for monthly statistics on road traffic collisions involving Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service vehicles over the last five years. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held as there is no centralised record of such incidents. | ||
| 2019-12-12 | JCC information | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for minutes of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) since 2015 and clarification on its role in police pension determinations. The Department of Home Affairs refused the request, citing an exemption related to the formulation of government policy and the need for free and frank exchange of views. | ||
| 2019-12-04 | Cost of a lunch for a prisoner | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of the average cost of a prisoner's lunch into raw ingredients and cooking costs. The Department of Home Affairs stated they do not hold this specific breakdown but disclosed that the average cost per meal per day is £4.20. | ||
| 2019-11-15 | Laxey Weir works & and resulting flooding | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought correspondence between the Department of Home Affairs, MUA, and contractors regarding the Laxey Weir flooding and predicted weather on 1st October 2019. The authority disclosed a Met Office weather warning and a redacted Multi-Agency Report but confirmed it held no direct correspondence with the MUA or contractors on the specific topics requested. | ||
| 2019-11-15 | Crimes reported, crime reference numbers issued, AG advice sought | Information not held |
| A request was made for a 36-month breakdown of crime reports, reference numbers, and Attorney General advice cases, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2019-11-14 | Police crime numbers and reporting crimes | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding police procedures for reporting crimes and issuing crime numbers. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Constabulary directly. | ||
| 2019-11-14 | Protocol for criminal offences involving a Deemster | Information not held |
| A request was made for the protocol regarding police duties when a Deemster commits a criminal offence, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2019-11-14 | Judicial conduct investigations | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding procedures for investigating judicial misconduct, including impartiality measures and reporting duties. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the General Registry instead. | ||
| 2019-11-12 | Offender supervision by the Isle of Man Probation Service | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for statistics on offenders supervised by the Isle of Man Probation Service, including details about their spouses' residency. The authority disclosed the total number of offenders under supervision but confirmed that data regarding spouses or their locations is not held. | ||
| 2019-11-11 | Police and Prison absences | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for the number of police and prison officers absent due to illness. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that 5 prison officers were absent but stated they do not hold data on police absences, which is managed by the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2019-11-11 | No of staff above prison officer grade time of in lieu for the 3 mont | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for staffing numbers, absence data, and qualification details for prison staff. The authority disclosed the number of admin and senior officers and explained the lack of formal qualifications for the Head of Security, but stated that data on staff time off in lieu was not held. | ||
| 2019-11-05 | Sickness absence at IoM Fire and Rescue Service | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for sickness absence figures for the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, including specific data on full-time firefighters and five-year comparisons. The Department of Home Affairs provided some held information but could not supply data on multiple absences for specific individuals or precise full-time firefighter breakdowns due to analytical limitations. | ||
| 2019-10-10 | Video footage from Fire Engines in attendance at Glen Road, Laxey | Information not held |
| A request was made for dash cam footage from fire engines attending severe flooding in Laxey on 1 October 2019, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2019-09-30 | Additional days and Legal Aid | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for information regarding additional days and legal aid was submitted to the Department of Home Affairs. The authority responded by providing some held information but confirmed that other requested data was not held by the Prison service. | ||
| 2019-09-26 | White Hoe | Information not held |
| A request was made for five-year statistics on police calls, assaults, ambulance usage, and substance incidents at White Hoe's secure and non-secure units. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Constabulary or the Department of Health and Social Care instead. | ||
| 2019-09-11 | The Best Little Prison in Britain TV programme | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for all documents related to the ITV programme 'The Best Little Prison in Britain', including meeting notes, contracts, and correspondence. The Department of Home Affairs provided some enclosed information but refused to supply the majority of the requested documents because they are already reasonably accessible via the Tynwald website and Hansard. | ||
| 2019-08-27 | Isle of Man offender re-conviction statistics | All information sent |
| The requester asked for recent re-conviction statistics for Isle of Man offenders, the methodology used, and specific details regarding jurisdiction and inclusion criteria. The Department of Home Affairs responded by sending all requested information, including enclosed copies of the statistics and methodology. | ||
| 2019-08-12 | Food | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the daily prison meal allowance per inmate in the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that while there is an annual budget for foodstuffs, the average cost per prisoner per day is £4.20. | ||
| 2019-08-06 | Prison officers absence | Information not held |
| A request was made for the total days of prisoner absence from work and the formula used for compensation, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that this information is not held. | ||
| 2019-08-05 | Absence Prison | Repeated request |
| The requester asked for prison absence days and heating/hot water costs, but the Department of Home Affairs closed this request as a repeated submission in favor of a subsequent request (917123). No specific data was disclosed in this response as the matter was marked for withdrawal. | ||
| 2019-07-29 | Fire service incidents at Ronaldsway Airport | All information sent |
| A request was made for statistics and details regarding Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service callouts to Ronaldsway Airport over the last five years, including false alarms. The Department of Home Affairs responded by confirming that all requested information was enclosed and sent to the applicant. | ||
| 2019-07-19 | Evidence of finding of an investiagtion | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a copy of a complaint, findings, and evidence from an investigation against them, but the Department of Home Affairs stated they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2019-04-04 | Alarms always going off either due to system fault or by unknown cause | All information sent |
| A resident requested statistics on Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service call-outs to Lord Street flats between April 2018 and April 2019, specifically regarding system faults, unknown causes, and smoke inhalation incidents. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that there were 2 system faults, 8 call-outs due to unknown causes, and 0 incidents involving smoke inhalation treatment. | ||
| 2019-03-11 | Enforcement of Isle of Man Flat Fire Regulations | All information sent |
| The requester sought clarification on the enforcement of flat fire regulations, the Fire Service's duty of care, and statistics on repeat landlord breaches. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the Fire Safety Department enforces the regulations, compliance is the owner's responsibility, and no specific policy exists regarding the number of breaches required for enforcement. | ||
| 2019-02-28 | Question to the Attorney Generals office. | Information not held |
| A request was made for information regarding the Isle of Man Children's Centre and a 2004 asset transfer scheme approved by the Attorney General's office and the High Court. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Attorney General's Chambers instead. | ||
| 2019-02-25 | Isle of Man Fire Services Charges | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the Isle of Man Fire Service's charging powers, specific government departments charged, and total fees collected from the public and private sector between 2015 and 2019. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed the relevant legislation, listed five government departments charged, and provided total monetary figures for fire safety and operational charges. | ||
| 2019-02-05 | Guilty plea to lesser charges | Information not held |
| 2019-01-29 | Prison staffing | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding prison staffing vacancies, long-term absences, and participation in the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MASH). The authority confirmed that no staff took MASH in the last 12 months but did not provide specific figures for vacancies or absence durations in this response. | ||
| 2019-01-21 | Manx produce | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding the origin of food products used in the Isle of Man Prison, specifically asking about Manx produce and in-house baking. The authority disclosed that the prison does not make its own pies, pasties, or bread, and while some suppliers are local, not all meat, eggs, or vegetables are confirmed to be Manx. | ||
| 2018-10-25 | Self-harm incidents at Isle of Man Prison | All information sent |
| A request was made for annual figures of self-harm incidents at Isle of Man Prison since 2011, and the Department of Home Affairs provided the available data covering the period from mid-2013 to early 2017. | ||
| 2018-09-17 | Appendix C - Karran Enquiry on Parole Sysyem | Information not held |
| A request was made for specific transcripts (pages 79-110) from the Karran Enquiry on the Parole System, but the Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2018-09-12 | Ex Police Officers working for IOM Constabulary | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for details on retired or resigned police officers currently employed by the Isle of Man Constabulary, including their roles, qualifications, and costs. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and advised the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary directly as a separate FOI authority. | ||
| 2018-09-03 | Police recruitment | Information not held |
| 2018-07-30 | Damage to Vehicles | Information not held |
| 2018-07-23 | Road traffic accidents | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on single-vehicle road traffic accidents and their causes over the last five years. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this specific information, suggesting the applicant contact the Isle of Man Constabulary or consult the Chief Constable's Report. | ||
| 2018-05-21 | Prison Governor Adjudications | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for statistics on prison Governor adjudications, guilty verdicts, and appeals over the last 12 months. The authority disclosed the total number of adjudications and the percentage of guilty findings, but noted that appeal data is not stored in their system and no general applications were submitted. | ||
| 2018-04-27 | Expenditure on single use plastics within the department | All information sent |
| A request was made for expenditure figures on single-use plastics by the Department of Home Affairs, and the authority disclosed a detailed table of spending across various services from 2011 to 2017. | ||
| 2018-04-24 | Police Bail | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for the number of people held on police bail for over 28 days. The authority responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Isle of Man Police service instead. | ||
| 2018-03-27 | Unpublished FOI requests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on Freedom of Information requests received, refused, answered, and published by the Department of Home Affairs over the previous 12 months. The authority responded by providing an embedded Excel spreadsheet containing the requested data. | ||
| 2018-03-15 | Police Stations | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on former police station sales and current officer numbers on the Isle of Man. The Department of Home Affairs disclosed that three non-operational properties were sold but stated they do not hold data on officer numbers, advising the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary. | ||
| 2018-03-08 | Fire doors | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of prosecutions regarding fire door maintenance failures in the last 10 years and since 2014 regulations. The Department of Home Affairs clarified the scope and disclosed that six separate prosecutions involved issues with fire doors. | ||
| 2018-02-07 | Fire Extinguishers and Blankets | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the Department of Home Affairs' spending on fire extinguishers and blankets for 2015-2017, but the department stated it does not hold this data as it is managed by shared services at the Department of Infrastructure. However, the department provided figures obtained from the Fire and Rescue Service for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years. | ||
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