Levels of knife crime have dropped.

From June 2018 to June 2019, the number of arrests for being in possession of a knife was at a five-year low of just five. That compares with 14 in 2017-18, the highest figure, and nine in 2014-15, eight the following year and seven in 2016-17.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey revealed the figures in Tynwald on Tuesday, in response to a question tabled by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).

He admitted that the significant drop year on year had come as a surprise and added that knife crime levels were being monitored by police.

In the island the maximum sentence for carrying a knife is five years’ prison. Mr Moorhouse asked whether any thought had been given to increased that to 10 years, but Mr Malarkey said there were no plans at present.

Mr Malarkey said the Isle of Man had not suffered an increase in knife crime similar to that apparently being experienced in the UK.

David Cretney MLC asked whether there was a clear reason for the spike in 2017-18, which was five more than any of the other years.

Mr Malarkey said: ’I understand that the police are looking at this.’