’We are investing in the safety and security of our island,’ said the Treasury Minister as he announced an extra £2.5m for the police force - the first budget increase since 2001.

Alfred Cannan told Tynwald that this would fund more officers to tackle anti-social behaviour, fight organised crime and drug trafficking and investigate serious sexual offences.

He said: ’We live in one of the safest places in the world. Our quality of life is envied by many and our low levels of crime are a significant factor in attracting new businesses to our island.

’The safety and security that we enjoy are precious, but we must not take them for granted.’

’I recognise that the constabulary is facing many pressures that now need addressing.’

He said he was providing the Department of Home Affairs with £3.4m of additional funding next year which includes an additional £2.5m to be invested in the police force.

Mr Cannan accepted this will not mean a return to policing levels of 10 years ago.

But he said it would give the Chief Constable the means to tackle new and emerging threats to our safety in imaginative ways.

Neighbourhood policing will be redesigned and modernised, with extra officers being provided to tackle offending and anti-social behaviour across the island. It will also provide more effective support to vulnerable people,’ he said. ’Additional officers will be put into the fight against serious organised crime. There will be more officers in place to target the importation of Class A drugs and to help take the profit out of drug dealing.

’There will be extra officers in place to investigate serious sexual offences and to provide support to victims of abuse.’

Some £227,000 will be provided for four additional roads policing officers that will allow the police to implement the government’s road safety strategy for the next 10 years, which was approved by Tynwald in January.

On top of these extra funds for policing, the DHA will receive funding for fire service training and for additional staff within the community service team, ensuring adequate alternative sentencing options are available for the judiciary.

There will be a £4.6m capital investment in the department, too.

Some £707,000 has been set aside for new technology to allow the Economic Crime Unit to become more effective.

There is £6m earmarked for the renewal and replacement of equipment, and £7.5m for emergency vehicles.

Mr Cannan said this would ’ensure our police and fire and rescue service have the resources they need to ensure the island remains a safe place and that we live our lives free from crime and danger’.

He said that in addition, an investigation continues into the options for a new emergency services headquarters in Douglas with £475,000 set aside in 2019/20 for this as well as support to assess the scope and condition of the current police headquarters.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey welcomed the extra funding, which is the first real terms increase in the police budget since 2001.

He said Treasury had taken action in response to the changing face of crime: ’We cannot do what we have always done and expect things to stay the same. The Chief Constable will not be using this increase to maintain the status quo.

’His plans to transform our police force are bold and ambitious.’

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Chief Constable Gary Roberts said: ’I am grateful to the Treasury Minister and his colleagues for their support and I note the importance that members of Tynwald have given to the safety and security of the Isle of Man.

’The Isle of Man Constabulary will make the best possible use of the extra funds and in March I will be launching a new strategic plan, which will set out the future direction of the constabulary.’