Three Isle of Man prisoners serving sentences in UK returned to Island

Thu, 08 Oct 2020

Three prisoners convicted and sentenced here, but who were transferred to UK prisons to serve their sentences, have been returned to prison in the Isle of Man.

The move will ensure that any future parole arrangements for the prisoners will be conducted through the Isle of Man Parole Committee, allowing a more informed evaluation and understanding of the impact parole may have on victims, families and the wider community.

The Isle of Man’s custody legislation means that any offenders serving a life term are not subject to automatic release and must satisfy the Parole Committee that they are no longer a risk to the public.  The Parole Committee is independent from Government and considers a range of factors relating to the individual and the risks they pose.  This includes detailed reports from the Probation Service.  This level of rigour in relation to probation was unlikely to have been applied in the UK, particularly the Isle of Man context.

In addition, bringing these UK based offenders back means that the risk of them being released in the UK and subsequently travelling back to the Island without the Police, Probation Service or the victims and their families being informed is also removed.

The repatriation of the individuals to the Isle of Man Prison will also ensure that the Island’s Prison and Probation Service can take a lead role in the rehabilitation programmes which work to minimise the risk of reoffending, should parole be granted in the future.  This will include detailed risk assessments and a bespoke programme of intervention

All three prisoners are classified as category B or below.  The Isle of Man Prison and Probation Service is fully equipped to provide rehabilitation to prisoners, including those who have been convicted of serious crimes.   Isle of Man prisoners held in UK prisons do return to the Island periodically as part of their visitation rights and are held at the Isle of Man Prison in Jurby when they do so.

Minister for Home Affairs, Graham Cregeen MHK, said: “I appreciate that the return of these prisoners to the Island may be unsettling for the community.  Planning has been ongoing for this move for some time, but was paused during the Covid pandemic.  We are ever conscious of the victims and their families and the impact that decisions of this nature may have.  We have worked to ensure, as best we can, that the victims or their loved ones affected by this decision have been informed.

“I think it is appropriate that the Isle of Man authorities are in the position to help inform any future decisions regarding potential parole to factor in the concerns of victims, their families and the wider community.”

All new arrivals at the Isle of Man Prison self-isolate in a separate wing for 14 days.

---