HOME Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK has welcomed statistics which point to a further significant decrease in the level of recorded crime in the Island. The overall figures released by the Isle of Man Constabulary for the period up to November 30, 2011, show a fall of 2.8% compared with the same time last year. This equates to a decrease of 6.9% in recorded crime against the three-year average, with substantial reductions in many categories. An overall detection rate of 46.6% compares favourably with the 28% average across 43 police forces in England and Wales, while 92% of people surveyed so far this year have expressed their satisfaction with the service provided by the IoM Constabulary. The Minister said: ‘Recorded crime in the Isle of Man is already at a 30-year low, so to achieve a further reduction within existing resources represents an excellent performance. The statistics continue to reflect that the Isle of Man is a very safe place to live, while a satisfaction rate of 92% indicates a high level of public confidence in the Constabulary.’ Against a backdrop of positive news across the board, the Isle of Man Constabulary has enjoyed notable success in terms of addressing challenges around drug crime, household burglaries and alcohol-related offences. Arrests for drunkenness show an increase of 5.1% on 2010 which reflects a policy of early intervention aimed at taking offenders off the streets to prevent them from going on to become involved in more serious incidents. There has been a reduction of 27.1% in domestic burglaries, a category which is regarded as an important barometer in terms of community reassurance. Solid progress is also being achieved in the drive to disrupt the supply of controlled drugs in the Island and crimes associated with trafficking such as money laundering. The Minister said: ‘The latest figures continue the positive trends witnessed in recent years and act as a further demonstration of my Department’s commitment to keeping people safe. However, complacency must not creep in. Reducing crime is a complex matter and one that must involve the whole of the community.’ He added: ‘Whilst a major priority for the Constabulary is to continue to drive down crime, also at the forefront of their strategy is the need to enhance the quality of investigations in order to meet the stringent requirements of the justice system. To achieve both these aims within existing resources will prove challenging in the months and years ahead, but I have every confidence that the Constabulary will succeed.’ Ends