Spike in Phone Thefts in England: Urgent Government Action
BBC News
In the past year, England and Wales have witnessed a concerning increase in street thefts, particularly of mobile phones, with 78,000 reported cases. Alarmingly, fewer than 1% of these cases have resulted in charges, while approximately 82% of investigations have been closed without identifying a suspect. This trend is attributed to a growing demand for secondhand phones, both domestically and internationally. In response, the government is calling on tech companies to devise solutions that allow stolen phones to be permanently disabled, hindering their resale. The government is also pushing for law enforcement to enhance their intelligence gathering regarding theft incidents and the culprits involved. The initiative reflects an urgent need to curb theft rates and improve public safety in light of rising crime statistics.
Highlights
- • 78,000 reported phone thefts in England and Wales last year.
- • Less than 1% of theft cases resulted in charges.
- • Approximately 82% of investigations closed with no suspects.
- • Surge in demand for secondhand phones contributes to thefts.
- • Government calls for tech companies to enhance phone security.
- • Proposal for phones to be permanently disabled if stolen.
- • Urgent need to improve police intelligence on phone thefts.
- • Rising crime statistics impacting public perception of safety.
- • Stolen phones often resold, creating ongoing crime cycles.
- • Government aims to reduce street thefts through legislative support.
* dvch2000 helped DAVEN to generate this content on 09/03/2024 .
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