A policing ‘blueprint’ that is fit for the 21st century will be produced as part of plans to modernise the Isle of Man Constabulary.
That’s the message from the Chief Constable Gary Roberts.
He’s set out plans to modernise the force as part of his Annual Report which will go before Tynwald later this month.
He says: "In the year ahead we will start on a highly significant modernisation of what we do.
"We will attempt to produce a policing blueprint that is fit for the 21st century and which will combine placing trusted and visible officers into local communities, with different ways of tackling community problems.
"Joined up local services targeting those most at risk is the best - and perhaps only - way we can maintain our quality of life. This is the future of neighbourhood policing."
The report, which is a statutory obligation contained under the Policing Act 1993, is a full and frank appraisal of policing in the Island today.
Cannabis is described as being ‘ubiquitous’ by Mr Roberts, equating to 10 per cent of all recorded crime in the Island over the past year.
Issues around cybercrime and the use of technology to commit crime are ‘complex and fast-changing’, requiring specialist skills.
Combatting financial crime, meanwhile, is a challenge which is being addressed by working closely with Treasury to support an ‘imbalance that has long existed between growing financial crime and available resources’.
