Community policing replaced with reactive policing

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs for data on policing strategy changes, firearms units, knife crime statistics, and associated costs. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and advised the requester to contact the Isle of Man Constabulary directly.

Key Facts

• The Department of Home Affairs does not hold the information requested regarding policing strategies and costs.
• The requester was advised to redirect their request to the Isle of Man Constabulary.
• The request covered topics including the shift from community to reactive policing and the establishment of a full-time firearms unit.
• The response was issued on 2024-09-05 following receipt of the request on 2024-09-03.
• The case reference number for this request is 4092365.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-09-03
• 2024-09-05
• 4092365
• 01624 687017
• 01624 631394

Original Request

Please explain the rationale for removing community police officers and replacing neighbourhood policing with a response approach to policing. Please include downsides/negatives to the rationale. Please provide statistics and empirical data to back up the decision. Please explain why the Constabulary now has a full time fire arms unit. Please provide statistics and empirical data to back up this decision. Please provide statistics regarding machete and knife crime on the Isle of Man over the last five years. Please provide forecast crime figures for machete and knife crime for the next three to five years. Please list how many times the fire arms unit and response officers have trained in Isle of Man Schools over the last five years. Please detail the costs of: The change from neighbourhood policing to response based policing The cost of upgrading the police vehicle pool Provide a breakdown of new vehicles purchased over the last 2 years, provide costs, type of vehicle and the purpose of each The cost of creating and the annual running costs of the permanent fire arms unit The cost of training officers in Isle of Man schools

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4092365 3 September 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 3 September 2024, which states:

"Please explain the rationale for removing community police officers and replacing neighbourhood policing with a response approach to policing. Please include downsides/negatives to the rationale. Please provide statistics and empirical data to back up the decision.

Please explain why the Constabulary now has a full time fire arms unit. Please provide statistics and empirical data to back up this decision.

Please provide statistics regarding machete and knife crime on the Isle of Man over the last five years. Please provide forecast crime figures for machete and knife crime for the next three to five years.

Please list how many times the fire arms unit and response officers have trained in Isle of Man Schools over the last five years.

Please detail the costs of:
The change from neighbourhood policing to response based policing
The cost of upgrading the police vehicle pool
Provide a breakdown of new vehicles purchased over the last 2 years, provide costs, type of vehicle and the purpose of each
The cost of creating and the annual running costs of the permanent fire arms unit
The cost of training officers in Isle of Man schools"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority (Department of Home Affairs) does not hold the information that you have requested.

In line with the public authority’s duty to advise and assist requestors under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the “Act”), you may wish to re-direct your request to the Isle of Man Constabulary who may be able to help you.

A Freedom of Information request can be submitted to the Isle of Man Constabulary online by following this link: https://www.iompolice.im/footer/corporate/freedom-of- information/

Alternatively you may contact the Isle of Man Constabulary at the following address:

Isle of Man Constabulary Dukes Avenue Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4RG Telephone: 01624 631394

Please quote the reference number 4092365 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.