Police firearms officers were deployed 45 times on the Isle of Man between April 2025 and April 2026, a marked increase on previous years.
The figures, disclosed in a Freedom of Information response, show annual deployments have steadily risen since 2021.
The Constabulary recorded 27 deployments in 2021, 27 in 2022, 37 in 2023 and 30 in 2024, before the jump to 45 in the most recent 12 month period.
The FOI confirms that the Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) function is carried out by the Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU).
Officer Numbers & Weapons
The Constabulary declined to release information on how many officers are currently trained to carry firearms, or the specific types of weapons used.
Both were withheld under section 28(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, which covers disclosures likely to prejudice defence, capability or national security.
In its response, the force said releasing such details could “negatively impact on the ability to maintain effective law and order” and allow “hostile planning” by identifying staffing levels and capabilities.
It concluded that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the interest in disclosure.
Deploying Armed Officers
The FOI reiterates the nationally recognised criteria for authorising armed deployments, drawn from College of Policing guidance.
Armed officers may be deployed when an authorising officer has reason to suppose they may need to protect themselves or others from a person who:
- is in possession of, or has immediate access to, a firearm or other potentially lethal weapon, or
- is otherwise so dangerous that deploying armed officers is considered appropriate.
Armed officers may also be deployed as part of a specific operation based on threat assessment, or for the destruction of dangerous or suffering animals.
