Isle of Man Constabulary
14 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 942.9%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Constabulary reveal an authority that is generally cooperative and transparent regarding statistical data, particularly in areas of public safety, road traffic incidents, and crime figures. The force has consistently released detailed breakdowns of sexual offences, domestic abuse statistics, and the specific costs of high-profile events like Royal visits (Cases 1151525, 3763230). This openness extends to niche local issues, such as wallaby collisions and sheep worrying, demonstrating a willingness to engage with community-specific concerns (Cases 553134, 1166149). However, a clear pattern of obstruction emerges when requests touch upon internal culture, personal data, or specific operational tactics. The Constabulary frequently cites 'disproportionate effort' or the risk of identifying individuals to withhold data on bullying complaints, officer injuries, and specific caution details (Cases 353867, 1326709, 353895).
Key Cases
Case 353867 — This case highlights a significant transparency gap regarding internal culture. The Constabulary admitted to having no central register for bullying and harassment complaints prior to April 2017, and refused to release specific data to avoid identifying individuals, raising questions about the force's ability to track and address internal misconduct.
Case 1321209 — A critical disclosure on internal accountability during the pandemic. The force revealed that three of its own officers were warned for breaching COVID-19 regulations, confirming that police were held to the same standards as the public, a key point of public interest during the crisis.
Case 3726171 — This 2024 case touches on a serious allegation regarding the deletion of a former Chief Constable's emails. While the summary cuts off, the request itself signals a potential crisis in data retention and government accountability, making it a pivotal moment for investigative scrutiny.
Case 1151525 — Demonstrates high-level financial transparency. The Constabulary provided the exact cost (£8,529.89) of policing Princess Anne's visit, setting a precedent for disclosing specific security expenditures for high-profile events.
Case 2039173 — Addresses public concern regarding sexual misconduct within the force. The disclosure of only two allegations and zero dismissals over a five-year period provides a clear, albeit limited, picture of the force's internal integrity regarding sexual offenses.
Related FOI Stories
Pandemic Enforcement and Internal Accountability — #1300877, #1321209, #1472805, #1624929, #1649413
Road Safety and the TT Festival — #470333, #553233, #855265, #865865, #1127725
Sexual Offences and Public Safety Registers — #353877, #353883, #353905, #1102261, #1996906
Internal Culture, Discipline, and Recruitment — #353841, #353855, #353867, #353873, #353887
Royal Visits and High-Profile Spending — #1151525, #3763230
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-13 | Inclusion Scrutiny Group meetings | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-01-17 | Sexual Offences on victims under the age of 18 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-11-27 | Drug driving | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-11-14 | Traffic Enforcement Rules | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-10-24 | Fees paid by Police to legal firms | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-10-11 | Katie Hopkins event at The Manx Legion Club in September 2023 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2020-08-19 | Detail of alleged offences for arrests and warnings - COVID-19 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought clarification on the dates of 'Direction Notices' and specific statutory offences for Persons 4-9 arrested or warned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Isle of Man Constabulary confirmed that the dates previously provided were incorrect, noting that the specific regulation and amendment in force were not explicitly recorded in their system. | ||
| 2020-06-10 | injury incurred during arrest | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the number of public injuries during arrests between 2012 and 2020, but the Isle of Man Constabulary refused the full request due to the disproportionate effort required to search paper records. Instead, the authority provided partial data on injuries identified in electronic records from late 2019, along with statistics on formal complaints and use-of-force forms as indicators. | ||
| 2019-12-16 | Sex offenders register | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the names, ages, and addresses of all living sex offenders in the Isle of Man, but the Constabulary withheld this specific personal data citing absolute exemptions under data protection laws and qualified exemptions regarding crime prevention. | ||
| 2019-05-01 | Disclosure of firearms certificates | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for detailed statistics on firearms certificates, specific application form responses, and data on applicants with criminal convictions or under age 17. The Isle of Man Constabulary provided aggregate certificate numbers and conviction statistics but refused detailed breakdowns and specific form responses due to disproportionate effort and privacy concerns. | ||
| 2018-09-20 | Time & Costing for MISPER's & Vulnerable Persons | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought statistics on police resource allocation, annual missing person incidents, location times, and telecommunications data costs for vulnerable missing persons in the Isle of Man. The Constabulary provided incident counts and time statistics but withheld data on officer numbers and telecom costs citing exemptions related to police tactics and crime prevention. | ||
| 2018-09-12 | Ex Police Officers employed by the Isle o Man Constabulary | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on retired or resigned police officers re-employed by the Isle of Man Constabulary, including their roles, qualifications, and total cost. The authority disclosed the number of staff, their job titles, and pay band distribution, but withheld specific names, individual qualifications, and salary figures due to data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2017-10-30 | Request concerning cautions and brief descriptions. | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for detailed caution statistics and offence descriptions from 2014 to 2017, providing aggregate counts by offence type but withholding specific brief details due to personal data exemptions. | ||
| 2017-09-28 | Request into the report in 2015 of assessment of burglary investigation | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for a 2015 peer review report by Lancashire Chief Constable Steve Finnigan regarding a spike in domestic burglaries on the Isle of Man. The Constabulary released a redacted copy of the report, withholding information due to ongoing investigations and data protection laws. | ||