Isle of Man Constabulary

200 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 66.0%

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

All (200) All information sent (132) · Some information sent but not all held (31) · Some information sent but part exempt (14) · Information not held (11) · No information sent - all held but exempt (5) · Request lapsed - requested information not provided (3) · Withdrawn (1) · Vexatious request (1) · Not required to fulfill request (1) · Decision Notice - Complaint part upheld (1) ·
DateTitleOutcome
2021-02-19CautionsNo information sent - all held but exempt
The requester asked for statistics and details regarding adult cautions issued on the Connect IT system and subsequent legal challenges between June 2019 and March 2020. The Isle of Man Constabulary refused to provide the information directly, stating it was already reasonably accessible via a specific Tynwald Hansard document.
2021-01-27Coronavirus arrests and fixed penalty notices in 2020.All information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for 2020 statistics regarding coronavirus regulation breaches, disclosing the total number of arrests and fixed penalty notices issued.
2021-01-13COVID tweetRequest lapsed - requested information not provided
A request was made for all documentation regarding a specific social media post by an Isle of Man Constabulary Sergeant on January 13, 2021. The request ultimately lapsed without the requested information being provided.
2021-01-11Covid arrests and chargesAll information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for statistics on arrests and charges related to breaches of the Emergency Powers Act during the pandemic, providing detailed breakdowns by age and residency status.
2020-12-08Accidents caused by road defectsAll information sent
The request sought statistics on road traffic collisions in the Isle of Man between 2018 and 2020, specifically those caused by poor road conditions. The Constabulary disclosed total collision figures for the period but noted that only one incident was identified where road surface defects were a contributory factor.
2020-12-07InformationAll information sent
The requester asked for the number of Isle of Man Constabulary dog handlers currently qualified to handle drug detection dogs. The authority disclosed that there are currently two qualified handlers, with plans to increase this number to three in 2021.
2020-11-30Figures for caution against offenceAll information sent
2020-11-13Explosive disposalsAll information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request regarding the number of explosive disposal incidents and associated costs over the past three years, disclosing 12 incidents and a total cost of £2,303.34.
2020-11-02Drugs - Search warrants executedAll information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a Freedom of Information request for data on drug-related search warrants executed between January 2019 and October 2020, disclosing details of 43 relevant premises searches including forced entry, officer numbers, and seizure values.
2020-11-02FOI request for foundation evidenceNo information sent - all held but exempt
The Isle of Man Constabulary received a request for scientific and legislative evidence regarding cannabis classification and harm but refused to provide it, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via public sources.
2020-10-27Arrests for Drink/Drug Driving (regardless of subsequent conviction )All information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary provided statistics on drink and drug driving arrests from July 2019 to October 2020, split into two eight-month periods. The response disclosed that while overall offences decreased by 10% in the second period, the average alcohol reading increased by over 50%.
2020-10-22Serious assault and drug crimes figures as reportedAll information sent
The request sought data to verify a Minister's claim linking a 6.8% rise in drug crime to a 49% increase in serious assault, specifically asking for cannabis-related proportions and secondary influence breakdowns. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed a detailed table of drug offence statistics by class for 2018-2020 but provided only a partial assessment of serious violent crimes for January to July 2020 regarding secondary influences.
2020-09-28Parking control and parking complaints.Some information sent but not all held
The requester asked for historical data on parking complaints and outcomes in specific areas of the Isle of Man, but the Constabulary disclosed only two relevant incidents from 2017 where no penalties were issued, noting that Fixed Penalty Ticket data is held by the Department for Infrastructure and Courts.
2020-09-15COVID-19 isolation breachesAll information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for data on COVID-19 isolation breaches by providing weekly statistics on reported events and the specific actions taken, such as arrests, warnings, or no further action. The authority clarified that not all initial reports resulted in confirmed breaches and detailed that four cases proceeded to court, with two resulting in imprisonment.
2020-08-19Detail of alleged offences for arrests and warnings - COVID-19Some 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.
2020-08-18Arrests and warnings for failure to self-isolateSome information sent but not all held
2020-08-11Assaults on officersSome information sent but not all held
The Isle of Man Constabulary provided statistics on arrests, charges, and prosecutions for assaulting police officers between August 2019 and August 2020 but could not supply a breakdown of officer injuries as that data is not held in a retrievable format.
2020-07-15Comis HotelInformation not held
2020-06-23Road Traffic Collisions StatisticsSome information sent but not all held
A request for road traffic collision data including driver metadata for July 2019 to June 2020 was partially fulfilled, with the Isle of Man Constabulary providing statistics for the crime year April 2019 to March 2020 but withholding driver details due to disproportionate effort.
2020-06-10injury incurred during arrestSome 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.
2020-06-10injury to police constables making arrestsSome information sent but not all held
A request was made for the number of police constables injured during arrests between January 2012 and January 2020. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed that records only exist from 2014, reporting 30 injuries during that available period.
2020-06-05Covid breachesAll information sent
The request asked for the number of Isle of Man police officers warned or disciplined for breaching the Emergency Powers Act during the state of emergency. The Constabulary disclosed that three officers were warned and none were disciplined, noting they were handled similarly to the general public.
2020-06-04Body Worn Cameras Follow up question.All information sent
The requester asked the Isle of Man Constabulary how many of their 60 body-worn cameras were currently operational. The authority responded that 47 units were working and available for use.
2020-06-04DiversityInformation not held
2020-06-04Diversity TrainingAll information sent
The requester asked if the Isle of Man Constabulary participates in diversity training and sought details on the content and frequency. The authority confirmed that while formal external training occurred in the early 2000s, current practice relies on a values-based recruitment approach and a mandatory e-learning module completed by all staff in 2019.
2020-06-04Conflict ManagementAll information sent
The requester asked if the Isle of Man Constabulary follows a specific College of Policing conflict management consultation document. The Constabulary responded that while the document is not yet formal policy, its elements are integrated into personal safety training, new recruit courses, and annual CPD.
2020-06-01Stop and SearchAll information sent
2020-05-29Body Worn CamerasAll information sent
The request asked if all on-duty Isle of Man police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras that must be activated immediately upon responding to calls, and if evidence-based de-escalation training is used. The Constabulary disclosed that cameras are not issued to all officers due to insufficient units, recording is situational based on officer judgment rather than mandatory for all calls, and annual Unarmed Defence Tactics training includes de-escalation components.
2020-05-22Number of juveniles arrested for Covid-19 Regulations breaches.All information sent
A request was made to the Isle of Man Constabulary for the total number of juveniles arrested for breaching Emergency Powers Regulations 2020. The authority confirmed that 11 juveniles under the age of 17 had been arrested for these offences.
2020-05-06E-Bike donation from Zurich InternationalAll information sent
A requester asked for all documents regarding Zurich International's donation of 10 e-bikes to the Isle of Man Constabulary, and the authority responded by releasing all requested information.
2020-05-04Social distancing police advice to shop ownersNo information sent - all held but exempt
A requester asked the Isle of Man Constabulary to confirm if police advice stated that shop owners had no responsibility for ensuring social distancing. The authority refused to provide specific documents, citing that the information was already reasonably accessible via social media and government websites.
2020-02-27Road Traffic Incidents and Parking Hillberry Road AreaAll information sent
A request was made for statistics on road traffic collisions, illegal parking notices, and complaints in the Hillberry Road and Birch Hill area over five years. The Constabulary provided collision and traffic incident data but stated they do not hold records for illegal parking notices.
2020-02-05Sheep worryingAll information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary provided a breakdown of recorded sheep worrying incidents between January 2018 and February 2020, detailing dates, outcomes, and casualty figures. The response disclosed that while 34 records were reviewed, no prosecutions had occurred for any events where enquiries were commenced.
2020-01-28Princess AnneAll information sent
A request was made to the Isle of Man Constabulary for the total cost of policing Princess Anne's visit in October 2019. The authority responded by disclosing the full cost of £8,529.89.
2020-01-21Road Traffic Collisions in the last five yearsSome information sent but not all held
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for road traffic collision statistics over five years, providing data on driver age and speed limit status but refusing to disclose figures for restricted vehicle categories due to the impracticality of manual record checks.
2020-01-09Road traffic collisions involving Isle of Man Constabulary vehiclesAll information sent
The request sought the number of road traffic collisions involving Isle of Man Constabulary vehicles over the last five years, broken down by month. The authority disclosed the complete dataset covering January 2015 to December 2019, totaling 32 incidents.
2019-12-16Sex offenders registerSome 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.
2019-12-16Police bonusesAll information sent
A request was made for the total amount of bonuses paid to police officers over the last 12 months, and the Isle of Man Constabulary responded by sending the full information in an enclosed document.
2019-12-11SalaryAll information sent
The requester asked for police salaries, performance-related pay details, and the definition of a 'good performer'. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed pay scales and a bonus payment scheme but stated that no specific definition for 'good performer' exists.
2019-11-22Crimes reported to policeInformation not held
2019-11-18Gun crimeAll information sent
A request was made to the Isle of Man Constabulary for statistics on investigated gun crime incidents for 2017, 2018, and the first ten months of 2019. The authority responded by providing a breakdown of specific firearm-related offences and their total counts for each requested period.
2019-11-13Centre for Assessment CorrespondenceAll information sent
2019-08-15Request for Road Traffic accident statisticsAll information sent
A request was made for road traffic accident statistics at the junction of Hawarden Avenue and Westbourne Drive in Douglas over the last five years. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed that five reportable collisions occurred within 50 meters of the junction during this period.
2019-08-15Horse Tram & Road Traffic CollisionsRequest lapsed - requested information not provided
A request was made for data on collisions between road traffic and horse trams on Douglas Promenade from 2016 to 2019. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed details of five specific incidents, noting that all were damage-only with no injuries recorded.
2019-07-29Incidents at Ronaldsway AirportInformation not held
2019-07-18Police overtimrInformation not held
A request was made for details on overtime payments and pay rates for police officers during the two-week TT period. The Isle of Man Constabulary responded that they do not hold this information and suggested contacting the Office of Human Resources instead.
2019-07-16Court Generated ComplaintsSome information sent but not all held
The request sought statistics on licensing complaints raised by the Clerk to the Licensing Court to the Isle of Man Constabulary since January 2017, including regional breakdowns and the Clerk's remit. The authority disclosed that 24 matters were referred ad hoc, provided a regional breakdown, but stated it could not confirm the Clerk's remit as that information is held by the Courts.
2019-06-27Creg ny Baa and of tt week gatherinAll information sent
The request sought incident statistics regarding a gathering at Creg ny Baa from 2015 to 2019 and the legal basis for its cancellation. The Constabulary provided a breakdown of 10 specific incidents and clarified that the event was voluntarily cancelled by organizers due to licensing and safety compliance issues rather than a direct police ban.
2019-06-13Road Races Act 2016All information sent
The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for prosecution statistics under Section 14(1) of the Road Races Act 2016, disclosing that 42 individuals have been prosecuted since April 2016 for unauthorized presence or vehicles on closed roads.
2019-05-01Disclosure of firearms certificatesSome 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.
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