The UK government may introduce legislation to compel mobile phone companies to implement anti-theft protections if a decline in phone thefts is not observed, according to Policing Minister Sarah Jones.
In a letter to the Science and Technology Committee, Jones stated that while the Home Office has pursued a collaborative approach with tech companies to reduce thefts, legislative action is a potential recourse. "My overriding objective remains to see that the proportion of stolen devices being reused/reactivated reducing, as this should support a reduction in the number of devices being stolen," Jones wrote. "If there is no means to reactivate a stolen device, its value is significantly reduced, alongside the incentive to steal it."
This stance follows calls from Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who urged the government to mandate that all phone companies render stolen devices unusable. Sir Mark indicated in June that the resale of stolen phones relies on insufficient security measures, allowing devices to be reset and resold. He noted that Apple had recently overcome this issue, resulting in a significant decrease in stolen phones being reactivated in London.
Jones acknowledged that discussions between the Met Police and phone companies have been constructive, with initial results showing promise. In the past year, London recorded 14,700 mobile phone thefts, an 18.7% decrease. While welcoming this reduction, Jones emphasized the need for further decreases and indicated that her department is developing legislation that could establish a "technical standard for anti-theft protections."
During a parliamentary inquiry last year, Conservative MP Kit Malthouse questioned whether companies were delaying action due to commercial interests, suggesting that a cessation of phone thefts could impact sales. The companies providing evidence at the time rejected the notion that they profited from phone thefts.
Samsung reiterated its commitment to customer security, highlighting existing features like Factory Reset Protection, Identity Check, and Security Delay. Apple stated that it has been a leader in theft deterrence with features such as Find My, Lost Mode, Stolen Device Protection, and Activation Lock, aiming to minimize the incentive for theft and protect user data. Both companies confirmed ongoing communication with law enforcement and government bodies regarding their anti-theft initiatives.