Drop in crime on Isle of Man attributed to Europe's only non-smoking prison



A brand new prison is taking credit for the plummeting crime rate in the Isle of Man.

But it is not the fear of being locked up that is making criminals think twice before stealing, fighting or trading in drugs.

The prospect of being forced to give up smoking is apparently far more frightening.

A huge drop in crime on the Isle of Man has been put down to criminals 'living in fear' of being sent to Europe's only non-smoking prison (file picture)

The £42million jail, which opened last year, is Europe's only non-smoking prison.

Inmates and guards are not allowed to smoke either in or outside the buildings.



With just under 100 prisoners, there is plenty of room for more, with at least 40 cells empty.



The Isle of Man, already one of the safest places in Britain, has seen a 14 per cent drop in crime since the jail opened, or rather closed, its doors in August 2008.

Prisoners arriving at the jail are told they have no choice but to give up smoking and are offered nicotine patches and counselling to help them cope.

An Isle of Man police source said: 'There are 200 officers on this island and anything which makes our lives easier is welcome news.

'It has become a standing joke that when we nick someone we remind them that if they get sent down they'll have to come off the cigarettes - their faces are a picture.'

In the last 12 months, the number of burglaries has plunged by more than 35 per cent, there has been a 25 per cent drop in the number of assaults, and the number of people caught stealing cars has fallen by seven per cent.



Domestic assaults fell 11 per cent and criminal damage offences dropped eight per cent.

The crime rate on the Isle of Man was already low, with experts saying it is down to 'low unemployment and high community spirit', but also that the criminal justice system takes a hard line on crimes, with even small crimes often resulting in imprisonment.

One former prisoner, who spent six months there, said the smoking ban had cons 'crawling up the walls' in desperation for a nicotine fix.

The inmate, who didn't want to be named, said today: 'As soon as you get to the prison they take your fags and lighter off you.

'It came as a big surprise to a lot of us - smoking is something that helps people doing time stay sane - it's something to do with all that time you have on your hands.'

He added: 'As soon as word got round that it wasn't a joke and that all smoking was banned, even in the exercise yard, a lot of people I know started having second thoughts about committing crimes.

'It was something they genuinely feared. Not prison itself, but the idea of being forced to give up smoking.

'Some of my mates have simply given up crime, whether it be stealing cars, shoplifting to order or burglary, as a direct result of the smoking ban.'

A spokeswoman for the prison said that the huge drop in recorded crime could not be 'wholly attributed' to the non-smoking prison, but said the non-smoking status of the prison was now a well known fact on the island.

She said: 'The No-Smoking Premises Regulations 2007 are well known throughout the Island.

'All smoking prisoners are offered every assistance through our professionally qualified medical team and prescribed nicotine replacement therapy in accordance with clinical guidance.'

Home Affairs Minister Martyn Quayle, said at the opening of the prison: 'It's been a very difficult issue to reflect the fact that we are not going to please everybody.

'Certainly the prison officers have a right to enjoy a no-smoking environment as much as their counterparts in the civil service working outside the prison.



'The Department considered a total ban was the right policy to adopt.'

Chief Inspector Simon Lowe, of the Isle of Man Constabulary, said today: 'Anything that helps reduce crime is welcomed by the police.'

A Facebook group has even been set up to fight for the right to smoke in the prison and already has 218 members.

The group called 'Allow smokers to smoke in the Isle of Man prison' states: 'This group is really more of a petition against the banning of prisoners smoking in the new prison on the Isle of Man.

'Smoking being banned in the entire prison is an absolute joke and an infringement against human rights by do-gooders.



'At least let the people who are in (prison) smoke outside. It's the only prison in Europe that has this rule.'