Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the modernisation of the Isle of Man Constabulary during a series of regional meetings.
 
The Chief Constable recently announced a major programme of reorganisation aimed at maintaining community safety at a time of reduced budgets and challenging financial targets.
 
Public meetings, to be attended by Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK and Chief Constable Gary Roberts, have been organised to help raise further awareness of the changes and to encourage people to share their views.
 
The events will be held at venues in the four neighbourhood policing areas – Central, Southern, Western and Northern:
 
•         Monday 11 August at 7pm in St Andrew’s Church Hall on Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, next to St Ninian’s. This meeting will focus on the Central district covering Douglas, Onchan and Braddan.
•         Thursday 14 August at 7pm in the Castletown Civic Centre for the Southern area, incorporating Port Erin, Port St Mary, Castletown, Malew, Santon, Arbory and Rushen.
•         Meetings for the Northern and Western neighbourhood policing areas will be arranged after the Festival of Motorcycling.

The meetings are being organised by the Police Consultative Forum (PCF), an independent body made up of community representatives that seeks the views of the public regarding policing and the prevention of crime.

Councillor Colin Cain, Chairman of the PCF, said: ‘Safe communities and low levels of crime make a significant contribution towards the overall quality of life enjoyed by people in the Isle of Man. The package of measures announced by the Chief Constable in June will undoubtedly have an impact on policing in the Isle of Man. These public meetings will provide a forum for people to hear more about the changes and what they will mean in practical terms.’

Minister Watterson added: ‘We are committed to working with the public in the best interests of the Isle of Man. This is an opportunity for us to explain the police modernisation plans in more detail and to listen to people’s views and concerns. I hope as many people as possible will attend and provide their feedback.’

The Constabulary’s modernisation plans include the closure of two police stations and a reduction in the total number of officers.

Neighbourhood policing is set to continue, but in a different format with the three teams outside Douglas being reduced in size and brought under the command of a single Inspector. Monday to Friday night time cover will be provided centrally from Douglas.

The changes will also result in significant changes to call handling, and to the tasking and management of police officers.

Minister Watterson, the Chief Constable and the local neighbourhood Inspector will attend the meetings to respond to any questions.

For more information contact PCF administrator Sharon Baldwin on 694318 or email Sharon.Baldwin@gov.im