Nearly 40% of Manx prisoners linked to organised crime

BBC News

6 days ago

More than a third of Isle of Man prisoners have links to organised crime, the chief constable has said in his annual report.Russ Foster released the findings for the 2024-25 financial year, which showed overall crime dropped by 10%. Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson welcomed the report, which was accepted by Tynwald members on Wednesday.She said areas of "drug-related and serious and organised crime remain a key focus" for the department.
The number of prisoners with links to Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) had risen to 39% in 2024-25, the report said.The figure is 6% higher than the start of 2024 at 33%, and 14% higher than at the end of 2023, at 25%.This year has seen violent crime reduced, but the proportion of crimes linked to drugs has risen from 9% to 14%.Mr Foster's report outlined there were 239 "disruptions" to OCGs throughout the financial year, which included arrests, seizures, sentencings, and "other action which affects the ability of the OCG to operate".The number of disruptions was 71% higher than the previous year, where 140 disruptions were logged in 2023-24.
'Deter, disrupt, detect'
Mr Foster's report outlined there were 239 "disruptions" to OCGs throughout the financial year, which included arrests, seizures, sentencings, and "other action which affects the ability of the OCG to operate".The number of disruptions was 71% higher than the previous year, where 140 disruptions were logged in 2023-24.Mr Foster said the force had made a "major impact on two OCGs", a "moderate impact on two OCGs", and a "minor impact on six OCGs". The groups were mostly related to drugs and money laundering, the report said, including four international money laundering OCGs. Three related to fraud, one related to immigration fraud and two related to human trafficking and modern slavery, the report said.Mr Foster said there had been 37 local arrests, and 22 in the UK, as a result of operations carried out related to organised crime. They saw a total of £464,000 of cocaine seized, £250,000 of cannabis, and £75,000 of ketamine. There was also about £127,000 of criminal property seized. Poole-Wilson said the report reflected the risk from OCGs and the department was making "continued efforts to deter, disrupt, detect, and bring to justice those who commit such crimes".Poole-Wilson said work had taken place at the island's ports, which had resulted in closer working arrangements in immigration and customs. "These areas of drug related and serious and organised crime remain a key focus and align with ongoing work to address exploitation of young and vulnerable people and reducing violence and harm," she added.
Elsewhere in the report, Mr Foster reported a rise in reported domestic abuse and sexual offence crimes, which the chief constable said reflected the "impact of new legislation and increased public confidence".He said: "The full implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020 and the Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Act 2021 has led to improved victim safeguarding, enhanced enforcement capabilities, and strengthened multi-agency coordination."There had been a 25% increase in the number of rape offences reported this year and a 24% increase for other sexual offences, the report said.A new Sexual Assault Referral Centre is set to open later this year.
Staffing challenges
The report highlighted "stretched resources" and "significant staffing challenges" which led to a reduction in the number of community based officers. Mr Foster said there were an estimated 30 officers leaving the organisation between 2025 and 2028 which was "compounding the existing shortages".Starting salaries for new recruits had been increased to £33,690, compared to £29,907 in the UK, which he said aligned them with other law enforcement agencies on the island.Sixteen new recruits had completed their initial police training, and would begin the next phase of training, which would "alleviate the officer shortages we have been experiencing", Mr Foster explained.In Tynwald, Poole-Wilson said there was a further recruitment drive under way, adding: "We are absolutely building back."The report was received unanimously by the Manx parliament.
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