A refreshed Criminal Justice Strategy for the Isle of Man is designed to set out a clear ten-year plan to protect the public, support victims, prevent crime and strengthen confidence in the justice system.
The Criminal Justice Strategy Refresh 2026–2036, the Criminal Justice Strategy Review and the Criminal Justice Board’s Annual Report will be brought to July’s sitting of Tynwald by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Jane Poole-Wilson MHK. The Community Safety Partnership Annual Report will be available as supporting information.
The strategy review shows the significant progress made since the original strategy was introduced, including stronger victim support, modernised legislation, closer partnership working and improved use of technology. The annual reports also support this with further details on more recent progress to meet the aims and objectives of the original strategy. These documents also recognise continuing pressures around demand, timeliness, prison capacity and performance data.
Progress highlighted in the Criminal Justice Strategy Review and supported by the Criminal Justice Board Annual Report, includes:
- Stronger protection for victims and vulnerable people through modern domestic abuse and sexual offences legislation, improved victim liaison arrangements, and the Island’s first dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
- Earlier intervention and safeguarding through multi-agency work to identify risk earlier and respond to issues before they escalate.
- More focus on rehabilitation through resettlement support, release on temporary licence, community rehabilitation accommodation, Manx Public Protection Arrangements and enhanced prison education and vocational training.
- More options for a fair and proportionate response including wider use of fixed penalty notices, increased use of electronic monitoring and expansion of community service, alongside continued work to develop appropriate alternatives to prosecution where suitable.
- Modernisation across agencies with improved digital systems in policing, prosecutions, courts, prison and probation services, supporting better information sharing and more efficient case progression.
The Criminal Justice Board’s annual report underlines the importance of partnership working through the Board itself, which brings agencies together to consider priorities and support a more coordinated response to risk, demand and system performance.
The refreshed strategy focuses on embedding recent reforms, improving timeliness, strengthening performance measures and keeping victims, witnesses and communities at the centre of decision-making.
The refreshed strategy is built around four priorities, intended to focus on prevention and make the system more responsive and effective:
- Prevention – tackling the causes of crime and intervening earlier to reduce harm before it escalates.
- Rehabilitation – supporting people to move away from offending and rebuild stable lives in the community.
- Appropriate response – ensuring the right intervention is used at the right time, with prison reserved for those who need to be there.
- New ways of working – using technology, data, collaboration and innovation to improve efficiency and outcomes.
- A key part of the strategy will be developing clearer measures of success, supported by better data and evidence about what is working and where further improvement is needed.
The Minister said: “The Isle of Man remains a safe place to live, work and visit but we cannot stand still. Crime is changing, demand on services is increasing and the justice system must continue to adapt.
“This refreshed strategy is about building on strong foundations. Since the original strategy was introduced, we have modernised key legislation, strengthened support for victims and developed better ways for agencies to work together.
“The next decade must be about turning that progress into lasting outcomes: preventing crime where we can, supporting victims, helping people avoid offending or re-offending, and making sure the system is fair, effective and trusted.
“The Criminal Justice Board has an important role in bringing partners together and holding the system to account. Bringing the suite of documents before Tynwald shows the progress made, the challenges ahead and the vision for the future.”
The Criminal Justice Board will continue to oversee delivery of the strategy and report on progress as the work develops.
