Recorded crime rose by 10% in the island over the last year, but is still below figures of a decade ago.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts’ annual report has revealed the figure. The report also shows a 24% increase in incidents involving mental health issues.

The 10% increase of 221 offences brings the total number of recorded crimes up to 2,503, with the majority being related to drugs and financial crime.

The figures are up to the end of March 2019.

There was almost 80 extra drugs offences, almost 50 more offences of assault and around 70 extra financial crime offences.

However, Mr Roberts said that ’behind the headlines there is growing complexity in terms of the demands facing the constabulary.’ He said a higher crime rate actually shows a high success rate for his officers and appeared to throw some criticism in the way of politicians for the rise of youth crime.

He added: ’Offending by young people increased, in a way that was predicted when neighbourhood policing was reduced and when resources allocated by partner agencies to the prevention of youth offending were cut.

’However, in comparative terms the Isle of Man is even safer than a year ago when compared to England and From page one

Wales and to the Channel Islands.

Data unambiguously shows that crime levels here are now at a quarter of the level of England and Wales, compared to a little more than a half four or five years ago.’

Crime rose across the whole of the island, except the west where Mr Roberts said a ’robust approach taken to a handful of young, recidivist offenders’, including issuing ASBOs (anti social behaviour orders) had proved successful.

While financial crime offences have risen, Mr Roberts said this is more likely be due to a higher detection rate and greater conviction success by the financial intelligence unit and the enactment of the Fraud Act creating new categories of offences. And he praised the increase in success of joint of operations with Merseyside Police seizing ’almost £2m worth of drugs, money and property (mainly vehicles used in the importation of drugs) from organised crime groups in the Merseyside area and from their operatives here’. However he does warn that violent assaults are on the increase as is cocaine related incidents.

lFull coverage of the Chief Constable’s report will be in Tuesday’s Examiner, including an interview with Mr Roberts.