Shock new figures show one in 16 people convicted of carrying a blade is given a fine.
The revelations come as ministers prepare to publish new statistics today on Britain's knife crime epidemic.
Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats reveal many offenders are getting off with a slap on the wrist.They show that in 2007 - the most recent figures available - 21,350 people were convicted or cautioned for carrying a blade. Of these, 1,187 - or six per cent - escaped with a fine.
The penalties ranged from ?10 to ?2,000 with the average at ?156.
The Lib Dems also revealed that in 2005 at least one offender got off with a ?1 fine. The party's home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said it showed Labour's tough talk on knife crime was a sham. He added: "Ministers love to posture on penalties for knife crime. But there is a massive disparity between what they say and what courts do. We must send a strong message to knife carriers. These pitiful fines do not do that."
The Ministry of Justice said the number of offenders jailed for knife-carrying had risen sharply in the last year.
A spokesman said: "Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for courts but latest figures show more people are going to jail and going to jail for longer."
The revelations come as ministers prepare to publish new statistics today on Britain's knife crime epidemic.
Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats reveal many offenders are getting off with a slap on the wrist.They show that in 2007 - the most recent figures available - 21,350 people were convicted or cautioned for carrying a blade. Of these, 1,187 - or six per cent - escaped with a fine.
The penalties ranged from ?10 to ?2,000 with the average at ?156.
The Lib Dems also revealed that in 2005 at least one offender got off with a ?1 fine. The party's home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said it showed Labour's tough talk on knife crime was a sham. He added: "Ministers love to posture on penalties for knife crime. But there is a massive disparity between what they say and what courts do. We must send a strong message to knife carriers. These pitiful fines do not do that."
The Ministry of Justice said the number of offenders jailed for knife-carrying had risen sharply in the last year.
A spokesman said: "Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for courts but latest figures show more people are going to jail and going to jail for longer."
