Stop releasing phone thieves who reoffend, Met police chief urges courts
Met police chief urges courts to stop releasing repeat phone thieves
- Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has urged courts to cease granting bail to repeat phone thieves, stating that such decisions enable continued criminal activity.
- Sir Mark also called on phone manufacturers and telecoms companies to implement measures making it harder to reset and resell stolen devices.
- London has seen a high volume of phone thefts, with nearly 600,000 devices stolen between 2017 and February 2024, though recent figures indicate a reduction in recorded incidents.
- In a recent crackdown, the Met arrested 248 individuals linked to phone theft, recovering approximately 770 stolen handsets and seizing 1,000 mobiles and 200 laptops destined for smuggling.
- Mayor of London Sadiq Khan proposed £4.5 million in funding to combat phone theft, including a new command cell, and supports the use of drones, e-bikes, and facial recognition by the police.
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