New police recruits on the beat

Probationers complete initial training

The Island's police chief has welcomed the latest batch of student officers to have completed their initial training.

The five men and five women will now start working under supervision in neighbourhood policing teams.

Another group of probationers will start their initial training in the new year, with the aim of increasing the strength of the force to an 'optimum' level of 211.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts says while helping increase overall staffing, additional officers are needed to fill vacancies left by retiring officers.

Mr Roberts says the new cohort will find themselves in a unique profession in which they won't know from day to day what situation they may be called upon to resolve - and their input will strengthen efforts to keep the Isle of Man safe.