Benefit office to close after violent threats

The benefit office in Port Erin will be shut down today after an "urgent risk assessment" deemed it unsafe.

It follows an incident in the Ramsey branch where a staff member was threatened with violence - a 23-year-old man has been remanded in prison as a result. 

Treasury says as there's only one way in, and one way out, of the southern office there is no separate means of escape should someone feel threatened. 

Services have now been discontinued and jobseekers will have to travel to Douglas once a fortnight to sign on.