Debt Relief Orders (DROs) were up in the last quarter, despite 2015 recording the lowest number of personal insolvencies since 2005.

Figures released by the Insolvency Service state that there were a total of 79,965 personal insolvencies last year, the lowest seen since 2005. However, the number of DROs (6,501) marked a 16 percent increase on the previous quarter.

Mark Sands, personal insolvency partner at RSM, said that shift was down to legislation changes which have seen the DRO criteria opening up to those with debts of up to £20,000 (instead of the previous upper limit of £15,000), and those with up to &pou...