Chief Constable's warning over police budget cuts

Thu, 07 Jun 2012

The Chief Constable warns that neighbourhood policing will become unsustainable if the police force continues to have its budget cut.

Mike Langdon issues the advice in the introduction to his annual report, which is due before Tynwald this month.

At the moment the neighbourhood model is credited with cutting crime by 40% since it was introduced.

However, Mr Langdon expects ramifications in the future if police funding is cut further.

Meanwhile, recorded crime on the Island fell by 6% over all last year.

Criminal damage is the most prevalent type of crime on the Isle of Man, followed by theft.

Despite an over all reduction, drug crime went up by 12%, with 187 recorded offences in total.

It’s still down over 16% on the three-year average.

Heroin seizures were up last year, with £38,000 worth of the drug uncovered by police.

Cocaine seizures were down to £36,000, from around £100,000 in the previous year.

Energy FM News asked Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson to comment on the figures.(Play media file below)