Police plan sets priorities for year ahead

The Policing Plan also outlines the aims of each priority detailed

Preventing organised crime and tackling international money laundering will be among the Isle of Man Constabulary's priorities for the next 12 months.

Drawn up by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the Policing Plan 2024-25 is based on public views, government priorities and operational needs.

The document also outlines a focus on community policing, protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and addressing youth offending.

Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said it was "critical we ensure that we can respond quickly to evolving threats" faced by the island and the plan would be "part of that".

The plan sets "high level aims and objectives" for the police and "ensures the chief constable can effectively prioritise resources on the things that matter to our community and which help to keep us all safe”, she said.

Objectives

The DHA said the feedback received as part of a public consultation on policing earlier this year as well as Chief Constable Russ Foster's assessments of threats, harm and risk were considered when drawing up the plan.

Each of the priorities, which also include tackling violence against women and girls, and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on Manx roads, have specific objectives and ways of measuring if they have been met.

Those objectives include bolstering the proactive international money laundering investigation team, working with other services to provide the right support for people with mental health challenges, and reducing the number of repeat victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

In his annual report, which was released last week, Mr Foster said the island's overall crime rate was down but raised concerns about staffing levels.

The Policing Plan for 2024-25 will be laid before the October sitting of Tynwald.