According to the latest figures, the crime rate in the Island has fallen by 38 per cent over the past three years, he announced.

According to Mr Langdon, the last time crime was at this level the Island was celebrating the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, a gallon of petrol was priced at £1.32 (29p a litre), the first space shuttle was being launched, the Raleigh Grifter was the bicycle of choice and the first Audi Quattro was leaving the factory.

The figure for all crimes committed between April 2009 and March this year dipped below the 3,000 mark, he said, while a detection rate of more than 50 per cent was maintained.

'These results are significantly better than any comparable jurisdictions,' he explained.

Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK praised the constabulary on this success, saying: 'The Island has enjoyed reducing levels of crime for several years and for the constabulary to continue to deliver yet more reductions deserves our congratulations and gratitude.

'These figures are even more impressive when one considers the robustness of the current crime reporting standards.'

He added: 'The Isle of Man is a safe place to live and work. One of the strategic aims of my department is to provide the grounds for the best possible quality of life here.'

When announcing the figures, the chief constable acknowledged the community effort that has contributed to a drop in crime in many categories.

He said: 'Crime dropped significantly for the third consecutive year and verges on a 40 per cent reduction against 2006-2007, which means we have now attained the lowest level since 1981.

'Burglaries in people's homes are the lowest for a decade and assaults and criminal damage have reduced by around 45 per cent in three years.'
He said: 'It's further validation of the efficacy of the neighbourhood policing model and demonstrates the benefits of working with the community to solve local issues at a local level.

'I would like to place on record my thanks to all police officers, special constabulary, support staff and community volunteers who have contributed to these outstanding achievements.'

Mr Langdon added: 'Overall the picture for the Island is extremely positive. It is a very healthy situation which we are justifiably proud of.'

The Isle of Man Constabulary urrently has 236 police officers, more than 70 support staff, more than 35 voluntary staff and more than 50 special constables.

-------------

FACTS AT A GLANCE

• A total of 2,896 crimes were recorded in the last year. That is a reduction of 15.4 per cent compared to last year and 38 per cent in the past three years.


• Burglaries in people's homes are the lowest for a decade and assaults and criminal damage have reduced by around 45 per cent in three years.


• IoM Constabulary's detection rate remains at more than 50 per cent, while detection in the UK and other jurisdictions remains around 25 per cent.


• Burglary in people's homes is down by 20.4 per cent – the lowest level in a decade.


• Burglary, vehicle crime and robberies counted for only 7.68 per cent of all recorded crime in the Island, compared to 27 per cent of all crimes reported in England and Wales.


• Burglary (in places other than homes) has fallen by 6 per cent in the last year and 18.75 per cent since 2006-07.


• Criminal damage offences fell by 15 per cent in the last year and 41 per cent since 2006-07.


• Assaults, excluding domestic violence, have reduced by 27.2 per cent in the last year and 43 per cent since 2006-07.

-------------

Do you believe these figures are an accurate representation of reality or is it a case of statistics can be manipulated to prove anything?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

To achieve such a drastic drop in crime would only suggest the following; That the police did virtually half the the work before that they do now; That the figures have been presented in a way to make the island look good for political reasons( the most likely-we all know what the Isle of Man is like);that forty percent of the criminals have either miraculously left the island or there has been a massive change in the judicial process which imprisons more people. So now that the Isle of Man government has got its publicity in the UK which it so desired maybe the police could actually start tackling some of the violent behavior(it appears to be increasing!) in Douglas, lunatic drivers and increasing drug problems ! Figures don't fool people.
MM

This does seem like a big drop to be believable but it doesn't mean it's not correct.
Credit where credit is due though, I do tend to see more community police now than in the last few years. Visibility is key when dealing with young/opportunistic criminals. Any improvements should be praised, reviewed and improved upon.
If this is the case though perhaps the police/town wardens could spend maybe just a few hours a month catching/fining some dog owners who let their dogs foul all over the place. Maybe then when some people get fined people will stop it.
There is no point in a hollow threat of a £1000.00 fine is there?
Has anyone EVER been fined for dog fouling here?
RANTBOY

When applying a generous hand of salt to the statistics presented, I was wondering how "modern" crime such as internet and identity fraud has been incorporated into these figures for Mr Langdon to compare the latest crime figures with those of 1981. I was also wondering how he has incorporated failure to respond to calls from the public when reporting a crime. Statistics and politics aside, well done and a big thank you to the majority of ordinary police officers on our Island for helping to make this a pleasant and safe place to live.
LG

The recorded number don't appear to agree with the evidence I see with my own eyes. Admittedl most people don't see a murder often (we do read about it happening on the island) but then there is a whole "iceberg" of crimes sitting below the high cosnequence ones. What I do see everyday is vehicle related crime and property related crime which are far greater as a proportion of the total and these have increased since 1981 based on what I see.
RON

In his annual report of 2005/06 the Chief Constable (Mike Culverhouse) stated, "From an external perspective, I am sure that the 19.9% increase in recorded crime will grab the headlines.The increase, which actually equates to an increase of just two crimes per day on an all-Island basis, is due entirely to slippage in our compliance with the exacting National Crime Recording Standard." And so we now have a 40% drop in crime. What was that saying again? Oh yes, "Lies, damned lies and statistics."
GEOFF, Douglas

Whilst I applaud the Police's efforts in combating crime and welcome the figures published, I do have a couple of areas of big concern that certain facts and figures have not been included by Mr Langdon's statement or this report. Where are the facts and figures relating to the two main criminal problems on the Island, I'm talking about alcohol and drug related crimes?? Admittedly some of these alcohol/drug related crimes, such as burglary, robberies and common assault have probably been incorporated into the published figures. But has this been done to hide the truth that we all know, that alcohol and drug related crimes are actually on the increase. We all know, hear and read that these crimes are on the increase. How about releasing the figures on drug crime? I'm pretty sure the figures will show an increase in this area.
TIM K


Good to read the positive messages of support for the reduction in crime.
I know people who have never locked the front door of their houses in the 20 years they've owned them. Some people with their heads in the sand should try living elsewhere for a while, until they appreciate the benefits of the IOM cocoon they live in.
The figures are good timing though, a very low level of crime from which to start the year long experiment in the relaxtion of soft drug laws. Watch the tourist figures soar, and tax revenues go through the roof if Tynwald has the necessary kahunas to meet Sir Mick's challenge.
EXPAT

It's all very well producing "massaged" figures but they don't tell the truth do they? What about the number of crimes that go unreported due to the fact that the victim knows that nothing will be done. An easy way to reduce figures methinks. I personally am still waiting for the police to come and take a statement for an incident that happened over four weeks ago. Well done Manx Police Force – your figures mean nothing.
PEEJAY

How dare they say "assaultS are down, EXCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" so that doesn't count then?? I think the IOM is a good place to live, but 40% reduction - I don't think we are that dumb to believe that. GHOSTHUNTER

So, if the crime rate has dropped this much, does this mean the police may now have the time to investigate my official complaint, seeing as I'm still waiting to hear back?
AGGRIEVED MANXMAN

If you had said 4% or even 10% we would have all thought 'great' with perhaps just a little sceptism, but 40%!! I suggest they relook at the figures, they may have missed a decimal point somewhere.
If you read any Courier over the last year the content will be either arrests for drink driving, assaults in or outside a pub/club, domestic assaults, persons caught with drugs either for own use or for sale, damage to cars or property, theft, Anti social behavoir by kids/youths/adults or someone who is climbing Everest or bouncing round Peru on a space hoppa for charity.
And that is just what gets reported, I expect there is much more crime that people dont bother with as the likelyhood of a result is zilch!
Our problem (& the UKs) is the red tape & paperwork our police have to deal with, its distracting them from thier true purpose. Additionally the legal system is a bit of a joke, there is no uniformity in sentences, those handed out seem pityfull.
Career criminals know how to and do abuse the system, clever lawyers assist in easing thier clients through the system so they can commit another crime sooner rather than later.
The whole thing needs revamping and we need a New York style 'Take no s**t' approach. Trouble is our prison is (like our hospital) too small!
If you took a vote on who believes these figures I think we all know the result!!
TONYTHETASH

Mr. Langdon's comments (laughable though they are to normal thinking people) constitute a CRIME to statistical reporting !!
PEDROCABMANN