An MHK has labelled a police recruitment post as “disturbing” for listing a lack of independent complaints system as a benefit.
The post, shared during TT, was used to try and recruit off-island officers to join the Manx Constabulary.
During the Tynwald debate on the Chief Constable’s Annual Report, Tim Glover told members: “I just do want to draw attention to an advert I saw which was trying to attract police officers from the UK, and in brackets was no Independent Police Complaints Commission.
“I really don’t think that is a way of playing the game fairly and undermines what we have here. I found that to be quite disturbing.”
Joney Faragher raised broader concerns about accountability, saying, “Operational independence in the UK is balanced with clear structures for accountability including oversight from Police and Crime Commissioners and an independent office for police conduct.
“We don’t have either of those mechanisms here.” She added, “Accountability for policing on the Isle of Man lies with the Department for Home Affairs and political oversight sits with Tynwald.”
Chris Thomas suggested the island might need to “look again at the legislation to see whether we can accommodate accountability in the proper way”.
Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said: “We recognise there is work to be done again to heighten and improve the complaints procedure and we still fully intend to bring that work forward.”
She told Tynwald the Department would progress reforms through the Police Miscellaneous Amendments Bill to address recommendations made by His Majesty’s Inspectorate.
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