Final number of Covid arrests and sentences

Summary

The requester asked for final statistics on arrests and custodial sentences for breaching Coronavirus Regulations in the Isle of Man between March 2020 and April 2022. The Department of Home Affairs responded that they do not hold this information because the most recent Constabulary Annual Report containing the data has not yet been provided to them.

Key Facts

• The Department of Home Affairs does not hold the requested data on Covid-19 arrests and sentences.
• The information was previously sourced from the Isle of Man Constabulary Chief Constables Annual Report.
• The most recent Annual Report has not been provided to the Department of Home Affairs to date.
• The requester was advised to submit a new request directly to the Isle of Man Constabulary.
• The request was formally closed on 1 June 2022.

Data Disclosed

• 1st March 2020
• 1st April 2022
• 19 May 2022
• 1 June 2022
• 8.8.21
• 2459117
• 1926861

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

A FOI reply dated 8.8.21 gave figures for the numbers of persons arrested and sentenced to custody for breach of Covid-19 Regulations in the IOM. Given that the IOM Government removed all remaining Covid-19 restrictions on 1st April 2022, please can you provide updated final figures as follows: 1. What is the total number of persons arrested for breach of any Coronavirus Regulations in the IOM from 1st March 2020 to 1st April 2022? 2. What is the total number of juveniles out of such arrests? 3. What is the total number of persons who have received a custodial sentence for breach of any Coronavirus Regulations in the IOM from 1st March 2020 to 1st April 2022? Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive's Office DHA Headquarters Tromode, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 694313 Web address: www.gov.im/dha Email: GeneralEnquiries.DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 2459117 1 June 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 19 May 2022 and which states:

"A FOI reply dated 8.8.21 gave figures for the numbers of persons arrested and sentenced to custody for breach of Covid-19 Regulations in the IOM. Given that the IOM Government removed all remaining Covid-19 restrictions on 1st April 2022, please can you provide updated final figures as follows: 1. What is the total number of persons arrested for breach of any Coronavirus Regulations in the IOM from 1st March 2020 to 1st April 2022? 2. What is the total number of juveniles out of such arrests? 3. What is the total number of persons who have received a custodial sentence for breach of any Coronavirus Regulations in the IOM from 1st March 2020 to 1st April 2022? Thank you."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Our response to your previous request (1926861) was composed using data contained within the Isle of Man Constabulary Chief Constables Annual Report which at the time the Department of Home affairs held a copy, to-date the most recent report has not been provided to this Department and as such we do not hold the information that you seek. You may wish to submit your request to the Isle of Man Constabulary directly who are listed under ‘Other Public Authorities’ within the attached request form: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/make-a-freedom- of-information-request/

Please quote the reference number 2459117 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.