Drug work stopped after rise in sex abuse cases

Thu, 07 Jul 2016

Work to stop the importation of drugs to the Isle of Man had to be put on hold over the last year due to a rise in the number of sexual abuse offences being reported.

That's according to the Chief Constable who says unless there are "fundamental changes" in the way the police force is funded "very difficult choices will become the norm".

Gary Roberts has described the increase in sexual offence cases over the last 12 months as "relentless" and says it highlights some "key deficiencies" in the Island's approach.

It meant detectives were often pulled from their investigations and moved into the Public Protection Unit - he says it wasn't an easy decision to make: