AN EXPLOSION in convictions for illegally carrying knives and other offensive weapons in the region is revealed in new government figures.

They show the number of successful prosecutions of adults has soared by 29% in Merseyside since Labour came to power a decade ago, from 494 to 638.

But there was a much bigger leap of 42% – among 10 to 17-year- olds, from 96 guilty verdicts in 1997 to 136 in 2006, the most recent figure.

There were also sharp rises in Cheshire. Among juveniles, the number of convictions almost doubled (from 32 to 62) and it rose by 19% among adults (from 195 to 232). The figures were released to MPs amid growing public fear about knife crime, triggered by a string of fatal stabbings across the country over the Christmas period.

However, although the illegal carrying of knives receives most attention, the figures reveal there are far more convictions for possessing “other offensive weapons”.

This category includes everything from knuckle-dusters, sword-sticks and blow-pipes to death stars, sickles and telescopic truncheons.

Astonishingly, the statistics – on Gordon Brown’s own admission – seriously underestimate the scale of the problem.

Just this week, the Prime Minister told police chiefs they were cautioning too many people caught carrying offensive weapons and ordered them to prosecute instead.

The figures, which were revealed by the Ministry of Justice to David Ruffley, the Conservative police spokesman, include only those offenders taken to court.

Mr Ruffley said: “This is a reflection of the spiralling level of violent crime under Labour.

“Labour’s complacent approach shows they are part of the problem, not the solution, and the public are paying the high, and all too often tragic, price.”

Mr Ruffley said the public was angry that other offenders escaped with a caution, adding: “There are so many people who do not get prosecuted and end up with an effective slap on the wrist.”

But the Home Office insisted the rise in convictions was explained by the police and the courts cracking down on violent crime.

A spokeswoman said further measures – expected to include more police searches and a greater use of CCTV evidence – would be unveiled in a “Tackling Violence” action, to be published soon..

She added: “The risk of being a victim of crime remains historically low, but we recognise young people particularly are fearful of becoming victims and some are carrying weapons.”

Launching a crackdown in 12 knife-crime hotspots – including Liverpool – Mr Brown said: “Where police have previously been cautioning people, there now has to be a presumption of prosecution.”

That message was immediately backed by Merseyside’s chief constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who said: “What we have to do is put people before a court.”