Stolen mobiles blocked within a day

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The mobile industry has joined together in the fight against crime and 100 per cent of all phones reported stolen are blocked by their network owner within one day, according to tests by the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum (MICAF).

The second figure released by the forum today is equally rosy as it celebrates the fact that 98 per cent of all phones reported stolen in this country are now blocked for use across all networks within 48 hours.

This success rate smashes the target previously set by the Mobile Phone Industry Crime Reduction Charter that aimed for 80 per cent of mobiles to be blocked within two days of being reported stolen in the UK.

"These results send a powerful message to anyone thinking of stealing or buying a stolen mobile that it will not work," said Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.

"By working with industry to take stolen mobiles out of action on the one hand, and enacting tough legislation to give police powers to close down unscrupulous retailers who offer to unblock stolen phones on the other, we are cutting the oxygen of mobile phone crime."

Coaker added: "The industry and the police deserve credit for their efforts. Crime figures published this month showed a nine per cent drop in robbery recorded by the police compared with last year. When you bear in mind that a mobile phone is stolen in over 50 per cent of robberies, I think these figures show that joined up action by government, industry and the police is beginning to bite."

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