Complaints made against the Isle of Man Constabulary more than doubled in the past year, according to the latest report from the Police Complaints Commissioner.
Police Complaints Commissioner Michelle Norman has published her annual report for 2025-26, covering the period from April 2025 to the end of March 2026.
During that time, the Commissioner received 28 complaints, with a further three carried over from the previous year. In 2024-25, just 13 complaints were brought to the Commissioner's attention.
Of the 28 complaints received, or treated as having been received, 10 were submitted directly to the Commissioner by, or on behalf of, complainants, 13 were referred by the Isle of Man Constabulary's Professional Standards Department (PSD), and five were sent to both.
Despite the increase in complaints, none has been fully substantiated and only five have been partially substantiated. A total of 16 of the 31 cases remain ongoing.
In her report, Ms Norman said: 'Of the 12 investigations concluded during 2025-26, none were wholly substantiated.
'Although five were partially substantiated, this was only in respect of minor elements of the complaints, such as the isolated use of inappropriate language.
'This is comparable with the position regarding the seven investigations concluded during the previous year, of which six were wholly unsubstantiated and one was partially substantiated in respect of two of the behaviours to which it related.'
The partially substantiated complaints involved issues including use of force, authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, and duties and responsibilities.
In two cases that were found to be wholly unsubstantiated, areas for improvement and learning were still identified.
Despite the rise in complaints, Ms Norman said it was too early to draw conclusions about policing standards because many investigations remain ongoing.
She said: 'While the number of complaints received during the year to March 31, 2026 is just over double the number received during the previous year, until the process is concluded regarding the remainder of the complaints received during the most recent reporting year, it is not possible to draw any conclusions as to whether this increase is reflective of changes in the standard of conduct of officers of the Isle of Man Constabulary.'
Ms Norman also explained that not all complaints are dealt with through the statutory process, with many resolved informally.
During the same period, the Commissioner was contacted directly by, or on behalf of, members of the public about a further 100 matters that did not fall within the statutory complaints process.
She said the increasing use of technology, including body-worn cameras, had helped resolve complaints more effectively, particularly where malicious or false allegations had been made.
Ms Norman also said the complaints process is being modernised to reflect advances in technology, the changing role of policing and to give people a mechanism to challenge how complaints have been handled.