Government Increases Efforts to Combat Phone Theft Following Significant Rise in Cases

Government ministers have revealed their intentions to crack down on criminals who steal mobile phones following a notable increase in thefts of over 150 percent in the past year.

Policing data has shown that approximately 78,000 individuals have had their phones or bags snatched while out on the streets. The surge in phone thefts is being fueled by a growing demand for second-hand devices, both within the UK and internationally, according to the police findings.

Over the past year, officials have recorded the highest rate of phone theft in more than a decade, with the equivalent of over 200 snatch thefts occurring daily.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has described the figures as “troubling” and has stated that the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure people’s safety.

“With the launch of new phones and the return of young people to school and university, many of us will have a new phone in our possession at this time of year,” Johnson commented, emphasizing Labour’s commitment to eradicating the threat of robbery on the streets of Britain.

Policing Measures

As part of Labour’s election manifesto, there was a promise to address anti-social behavior and “reclaim our streets.” This includes implementing stricter penalties for offenders and increasing the presence of neighborhood police.

“Under our Safer Streets initiative, this new government is determined to tackle snatch theft, knife-enabled robbery, and other crimes that contribute to people feeling unsafe in our communities. We are also working towards deploying thousands more uniformed officers into our neighborhoods to reinstate neighborhood policing,” Johnson affirmed.

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The government will also be assigning police chiefs to address this issue of neighborhood theft.

To gain a better understanding of the stolen mobile phone market, the government will task the national police intelligence unit Operation Opal to collect information on the individuals stealing smartphones and the destinations of these stolen devices.

Ministers are also looking to enhance the “visible police presence” in areas prone to crime or those at higher risk of serious violence and knife-point robberies.

According to Commander Richard Smith, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for personal robbery, officers are focused on targeting habitual criminals who engage in prolific offending.

“Personal robbery can have a significant impact on victims, leaving them traumatized, which can have long-lasting effects. Criminals often target some of the most vulnerable members of society, including children, using threats of violence, making robbery a particularly distressing experience,” Smith added.

Safety Features

To counter the increasing trend of phone thefts, officials have been engaging with representatives from the tech industry to discuss the matter.

During one of these meetings in October 2023, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, police officials, and representatives from Apple, Samsung, and Google came together to deliberate on safety features aimed at preventing the exploitation of stolen devices.

Recently, the government announced its intentions to convene a summit, attended by tech companies and manufacturers, to examine new innovations that could help combat the illegal market.

“This initiative will build upon the anti-theft smartphone features that some tech companies have already implemented to safeguard their customers,” stated the Home Office.

One of the safety features introduced by Google for its Android operating system is the Theft Detection Lock, which can identify “common motion associated with theft” by interpreting signals from the phone to lock it down.

Google’s forthcoming Remote Lock feature will allow users to remotely lock their screens.