An MHK has appeared to suggest that the security often seen on the weekend Liverpool sailings could be used to help control children.
Julie Edge (Onchan) made the comments while MHKs questioned the Treasury Minister about the Steam Packet’s new child/adult ratio rules.
As a result of the changes, group bookings for schools and clubs will have to have one adult of every five children, down from one for every 10.
During question time, Ms Edge suggested that some of the money used could be spent on children.
Ms Edge said: “Has anybody ever been on the boat when there’s a football match on, perhaps a derby in Liverpool and there’s lots of security guards around making sure that the adults are behaving.
“So I do think there is scope within the Steam Packet to ensure that our children, who have been made to sound like they are running riot on the boats by the Steam Packet, and I hope that they will retract that because I genuinely believe that our teachers have very, very well organised tight operation when they take the responsibility for taking children off the island.
“And I do think that the Steam Packet are already spending for football trips, let them use some of that money towards young children traveling to and from the Isle of Man if it’s become such a big problem, and I’m not sure any of us are aware of where this problem has come from.”
She added that the policy was a “failure’ by the Steam Packet a one it and the Treasury, as shareholder, should rectify.
Not Riotting
Distancing himself from the use of the word riot, Dr Allinson said that the issue was primarily driven by safety concerns, but acknowledged that it would impact schools.
He had earlier told members that there have been issues raised by crew members about the behaviour of large groups onboard the company’s vessels, which were shared by the head of customer experience.
“On average, when groups are traveling onboard, the crew will receive between three and four complaints verbally from passengers per sailing,” he said.
“On average, they will play the warning announcement about children’s behaviour from four to six times per sailing, depending on the complaints received and observed behaviours when, on average, they will speak to leaders or guardians two to three times per sailing about children’s behaviour.”
He added that going forward the company will seek the formalise these complaints to provide a more comprehensive report.
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