Police on the Island hope to further develop their web presence and free up officers to spend more time on the beat.

The Manx force is already using Facebook and Twitter to interact with the public on issues such as road traffic problems and say the move into social media has been well received by residents with more than 7,000 using them on a regular basis.

It's hoped further web development will allow services, such as filling in firearms licence application forms, to be completed on-line.

Home Affairs Minster Juan Watterson says the force is also looking at ways of allowing officers to write reports 'in the field' allowing them to spend more time on patrol.