View source for Isle of Man Constabulary

{{short description|Police service of the Isle of Man}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname	= Isle of Man Constabulary
|nativename     = {{lang|gv|Meoiryn-Shee Ellan Vannin}}
|badge		= Isle of Man Constabulary Logo.png
|formedyear	= 1863
|formedmonthday = September
|budget		= £15 million<ref>[http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/dha/police/hmicbaselineassessment2006oniom.pdf Isle of Man Constabulary – Baseline Assessment], October 2006.</ref>
|country	= Isle of Man
|divtype	= Crown dependency
|divname	= 
|map		= IOMPolice.PNG
|mapcaption	= Isle of Man Constabulary area
|sizearea	= {{convert|572|km²|sqmi}}
|sizepopulation	= 85,000
|police		= yes
|headquarters	= [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]]
|sworn		= 200
|stations	= 4
|chief1name	= Russ Foster
|chief1position = [[Chief Constable]]
|officetype	= Division
|officename	= 4
| website	= {{Official URL}}
}}
The '''Isle of Man Constabulary''' ({{langx|gv|Meoiryn-Shee Ellan Vannin}}) is the national police service of the [[Isle of Man]], an island of 85,000 inhabitants, situated approximately [[equidistant]] from [[Northern Ireland]], [[Wales]], [[Scotland]] and [[England]].

==Structures and deployment==
The force has about 236 officers in its establishment. As the Isle of Man is not a part of the [[United Kingdom]], the Constabulary is responsible to the [[Minister of Home Affairs (Isle of Man)|Minister of Home Affairs]] of the [[Isle of Man Government]]. Nevertheless, the service volunteers itself for inspection by [[His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary]] (HMIC) for [[England and Wales]].

The force is split into four [[Neighbourhood Policing Team]]s (NPTs).  Each NPT is controlled by an inspector who has established a partnership with the local community to help solve issues affecting the local area.
{|class="wikitable"
|+Neighbourhood Policing Teams<ref>[https://www.iompolice.im/] Isle of Man Constabulary</ref>
|-
!Team!!Parishes etc. covered
|-
|Northern||Ramsey, Andreas, Bride, Ballaugh, Lezayre, Maughold, Jurby, Lonan, Laxey
|-
|Western||Patrick, German, Michael, Peel, Marown
|-
|Southern||Castletown, Port St Mary, Port Erin, Malew, Arbory, Rushen, Santon
|-
|Eastern||[[Douglas, Isle of Man|Borough of Douglas]], Braddan, Onchan
|}

There is a Criminal Investigation Department which includes the CID, Public Protection and Pro-active Teams

A small team of intelligence and drug trafficking officers exists dedicated to this. Drug trafficking is an assigned matter to the [[Isle of Man Treasury#Isle of Man Customs and Excise|Isle of Man Customs and Excise]].

An Operational Support Group which includes operational Firearms and Training, Public Order officers, a Search Team, Negotiators and Post Incident Managers. Armed officers generally utilize the [[Glock 17]] [[9x19mm]] sidearm and favor the [[Heckler & Koch HK416]] [[5.56x45mm]] rifle.

A major event for the force is the annual [[Isle of Man TT|TT races]].

The constabulary's headquarters are in Douglas. The present [[chief constable]] is Russ Foster.<ref name = ccrep22 >{{cite web | url = https://www.iompolice.im/media/1581/cc-annual-report-202223_compressed.pdf | publisher = Isle of Man Constabulary | title = Chief Constable's Annual Report 2022-2023 | access-date = 8 July 2023}}</ref>

==Uniform==
[[File:WMP Museum - Police Force Isle of Man helmet 01.jpg|thumb|left|The distinctive white Isle of Man Constabulary [[custodian helmet]].|150px]]
In terms of uniform, the force looks very similar to police in the [[United Kingdom]], apart from the Isle of Man [[custodian helmet]]s worn by male constables and sergeants. White helmets were introduced in 1960 as a summer alternative to the older black helmets (partly for tourism reasons).<ref>[http://www.gov.im/dha/police/history/ Police History – Isle of Man Constabulary<!-- Bot-generated title-->]</ref> White helmets were used as a summer option in other police forces (including Brighton, Southend-on-Sea and [[Swansea police|Swansea]] Borough Police forces; Peterborough City Police; the [[Metropolitan Police]]'s band; and the [[New Zealand Police]]), but this practice ceased in the UK in 1969 and in New Zealand in the 1990s.<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Isle of Man police.jpg]] --> The white helmet is now worn year round by officers on foot patrol. Officers on mobile patrol tend to wear peaked caps.

Officers of the rank of sergeant and above may carry a "signalling stick" when on foot patrol. This is in effect an additional rank indicator. Until very recently, constables "acting up" in the rank of sergeant were referred to as "carrying the stick". If the "acting" was only short term, the stick was often the only indicator of their additional responsibilities.

==Controversies==

During the tenure of [[Mike Culverhouse]], the force was involved in the [[Manx Bugging Scandal]], and almost all senior officers except the [[Chief Constable]] were either suspended, retired or dismissed due to the uncovering of widespread [[bugging]].

==Rank structure==
{{See also|Police ranks of the United Kingdom}}
The rank structure of the Isle of Man Constabulary follows the practice of United Kingdom county (as opposed to metropolitan) territorial police forces, except that there are no ranks of chief superintendent or assistant chief constable. There are currently three superintendents and four chief inspectors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IOM Constabulary Command Team|url=https://www.iompolice.im/footer/corporate/command-team/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.iompolice.im}}</ref>

{{IOM Police rank insignia}}

== Chief officers==

* Chief Constable Russ Foster, 2023-present<ref name = ccrep22 />
* Chief Constable Gary Roberts, 2013–2023
* Chief Constable Mike Langdon, 2008–2013
* Chief Constable [[Mike Culverhouse]], 1999–2007
* Chief Constable [[Robin Oake]], 1986–1999
* Chief Constable Frank Weedon, 1972–1986
* Chief Constable Christopher Beaty-Pownall, 1955–1972
* Chief Constable [[Major (rank)|Major]] John Young, 1936–1954
* Chief Constable [[Colonel]] H W Madoc, 1911–1936
* Chief Constable William Freeth, 1888–1911
* Chief Constable [[Lieutenant Colonel]] William Paul, 1878–1888

== See also ==
* [[Isle of Man Airport Police]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/police-forces/forces-organisations/isle-of-man-constabulary/ ''Isle of Man Constabulary'']. [[His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services]].

{{Police forces of the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories}}

[[Category:Police forces of dependent territories of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in the Isle of Man| ]]
[[Category:Emergency services in the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1863]]