Latest news with #JanePooleWilson
BBC News
21-07-2025
- BBC News
Nearly 40% of Manx prisoners linked to organised crime
More than a third of Isle of Man prisoners have links to organised crime, the chief constable has said in his annual Foster released the findings for the 2024-25 financial year, which showed overall crime dropped by 10%. Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson welcomed the report, which was accepted by Tynwald members on said areas of "drug-related and serious and organised crime remain a key focus" for the department. The number of prisoners with links to Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) had risen to 39% in 2024-25, the report figure is 6% higher than the start of 2024 at 33%, and 14% higher than at the end of 2023, at 25%.This year has seen violent crime reduced, but the proportion of crimes linked to drugs has risen from 9% to 14%.Mr Foster's report outlined there were 239 "disruptions" to OCGs throughout the financial year, which included arrests, seizures, sentencings, and "other action which affects the ability of the OCG to operate".The number of disruptions was 71% higher than the previous year, where 140 disruptions were logged in 2023-24. 'Deter, disrupt, detect' Mr Foster's report outlined there were 239 "disruptions" to OCGs throughout the financial year, which included arrests, seizures, sentencings, and "other action which affects the ability of the OCG to operate".The number of disruptions was 71% higher than the previous year, where 140 disruptions were logged in Foster said the force had made a "major impact on two OCGs", a "moderate impact on two OCGs", and a "minor impact on six OCGs". The groups were mostly related to drugs and money laundering, the report said, including four international money laundering OCGs. Three related to fraud, one related to immigration fraud and two related to human trafficking and modern slavery, the report Foster said there had been 37 local arrests, and 22 in the UK, as a result of operations carried out related to organised crime. They saw a total of £464,000 of cocaine seized, £250,000 of cannabis, and £75,000 of ketamine. There was also about £127,000 of criminal property seized. Poole-Wilson said the report reflected the risk from OCGs and the department was making "continued efforts to deter, disrupt, detect, and bring to justice those who commit such crimes".Poole-Wilson said work had taken place at the island's ports, which had resulted in closer working arrangements in immigration and customs. "These areas of drug related and serious and organised crime remain a key focus and align with ongoing work to address exploitation of young and vulnerable people and reducing violence and harm," she added. Elsewhere in the report, Mr Foster reported a rise in reported domestic abuse and sexual offence crimes, which the chief constable said reflected the "impact of new legislation and increased public confidence".He said: "The full implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 2020 and the Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Act 2021 has led to improved victim safeguarding, enhanced enforcement capabilities, and strengthened multi-agency coordination."There had been a 25% increase in the number of rape offences reported this year and a 24% increase for other sexual offences, the report said.A new Sexual Assault Referral Centre is set to open later this year. Staffing challenges The report highlighted "stretched resources" and "significant staffing challenges" which led to a reduction in the number of community based officers. Mr Foster said there were an estimated 30 officers leaving the organisation between 2025 and 2028 which was "compounding the existing shortages".Starting salaries for new recruits had been increased to £33,690, compared to £29,907 in the UK, which he said aligned them with other law enforcement agencies on the new recruits had completed their initial police training, and would begin the next phase of training, which would "alleviate the officer shortages we have been experiencing", Mr Foster Tynwald, Poole-Wilson said there was a further recruitment drive under way, adding: "We are absolutely building back."The report was received unanimously by the Manx parliament. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
'Regret' over police TT film showing fatal crashes
A safety video posted on Facebook by Isle of Man police which showed fatal racing crashes ahead of this year's TT festival was a matter of "regret", a minister has film, which featured crashes on both open roads and during racing, was edited and re-posted by officers on 19 in the House of Keys, Home Affairs minister Jane Poole-Wilson admitted families had not been consulted about its of Man Constabulary, which reposted the video following a backlash, has been contacted for a response. The video was posted after the force launched its annual Know Your Limits campaign and urged TT fans to "respect our roads".However, social media users were quick to criticise the racing footage it in previous years videos have shown crashes involving regular traffic, many took issue with TT racing footage being included because the campaign was aimed at everyday road users. One person described it as "inappropriate, distasteful, not to mention disrespectful".Another said: "To release the video without consulting the families is beyond comprehension and somebody should be held accountable."In a statement following the re-posted video, the force said it had "followed all the correct protocols and procedures in the making of all versions of this video".The statement also said: "While our overall aim is to save lives and prevent serious injury, we also want to be responsive to the specific feedback about one element of our TT safety video and its impact on some."Poole-Wilson said: "I am aware that the constabulary have taken steps to address the identified issue including making changes to the video."While the chief constable was "operationally independent", the minister said she understood the police had "introduced a new process and clearance system to ensure that a matter such as this is not repeated". 'Ghoulish level' Arbory, Castletown and Malew member Tim Glover told the minister the video had been "a big triggering event for these families" and had "caused immense upset to have to relive those horrific days".The footage showed "a whole new ghoulish level, rather than just showing machinery", he said no consultation had taken place as the footage "was already in the public domain", but she emphasised her "regret at that impact" on families."I recognise that individuals have been distressed as a result," she said."The video intends to help to protect the public and our visitors from the devastating effects of road traffic collisions that can often be avoided."This year's TT had seen no fatalities on open roads for the second consecutive year, she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Drugs and criminal cash worth £1m seized at Manx ports since July
Criminal cash and drugs worth more than £1m have been seized at ports on the Isle of Man since July 2024, the government has £150,000 in cash and more than £880,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine, have been intercepted during the period along with some instances of steroids or prescription drugs. The Isle of Man Constabulary and Customs teams have made the discoveries at Ronaldsway Airport, the island's Sea Terminal in Douglas and via postal criminal goods were found concealed in vehicles, in parcels and freight, through searches of individuals, or through a mixture of random stops and existing police intelligence. The operations have led to a number of prosecutions or financial penalties, as well as civil forfeiture proceedings, with a number of cases still value of single seizures of drugs ranged from £100 to £220,000, and cash seizures were made when cash had not been declared. 'Clear message' In September, the Department of Home Affairs launched a strategy to tighten security at the island's Jane Poole-Wilson MHK, said the figures showed the "multi-agency approach to preventing, detecting and pursuing crime, led by the Constabulary, is disrupting criminal networks and safeguarding our residents" was being "effectively implemented".The seizures sent a "clear message" that the Isle of Man was "not a soft target for organised crime", she Constable Russ Foster said joint working between the constabulary and Customs was making the island a "hostile environment for organised crime". "By seizing drugs and the proceeds of crime in this way we are striking at the heart of these illicit criminal enterprises", he other law enforcement partners "we will continue to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups who are blighting our island and bring the perpetrators to justice", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
