TL;DR
MPs say the UK government has failed to follow up on expert recommendations to curb rising mobile phone thefts, including holding a promised summit. The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee received only a vague 'holding reply' after warning that technical fixes could reduce the value of stolen handsets.
What happened
Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has publicly criticised the UK government for what she describes as complacency over a marked rise in mobile phone thefts. Six months after a parliamentary evidence session that heard from experts, technology firms and the Metropolitan Police on technical measures to deter theft, the committee reports no substantive action and no confirmed follow-up summit. Onwurah wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging adoption of measures such as cloud-based blocking and IMEI-linked locks to make stolen devices less valuable. The committee says it received a November 'holding reply' indicating meetings with police and industry were planned, but offering no timetable or commitments. The Met's own evidence to MPs cited roughly 80,000 reported smartphone thefts in London in 2024, up from 64,000 in 2023, a trend that has sharpened the committee's concern.
Why it matters
- Rising thefts undermine public safety and could discourage use or gifting of mobile devices.
- Technical measures discussed by experts could reduce the resale value of stolen phones, potentially curbing organised theft.
- A lack of clear government action or timelines raises questions about cross-sector coordination among regulators, police and vendors.
- Consumer privacy and property risks are implicated if stolen devices remain usable or can be resold internationally.
Key facts
- Dame Chi Onwurah chairs the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
- The committee held an evidence session on technical solutions to phone theft approximately six months before the December report.
- A 'holding reply' received from the government in November said meetings with police and industry were planned but gave no date for a summit.
- The Met Police cited about 80,000 smartphones reported stolen in London in 2024, compared with about 64,000 in 2023.
- Experts and the committee highlighted technical options including cloud-based blocking and IMEI-linked device locks.
- Apple told MPs that IMEI-level blocking could introduce other vulnerabilities, while Google said its customer relationship is cloud-based rather than device-based.
- The committee criticised the response as lacking commitments, timetables or clarity on when government-led follow-up would occur.
- MPs warned that continued inaction could leave new devices vulnerable and affect public confidence.
What to watch next
- Whether the government schedules and publishes a date for the promised phone-theft summit — not confirmed in the source.
- Any formal commitments from tech companies to adopt cloud-based blocking or IMEI-linked locks — not confirmed in the source.
- Updates from the Home Office, Met Police or the Mayor's Office on outcomes from planned meetings with industry — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- IMEI: International Mobile Equipment Identity — a unique identifier assigned to mobile devices that can be used to track or block specific handsets.
- Cloud-based blocking: A mechanism that prevents a device from accessing cloud services or accounts, potentially reducing the utility of a stolen device.
- Device lock: A security feature that ties a device to an account or identifier so it cannot be used if stolen or reset without proper credentials.
- Summit: A high-level meeting between government, industry and other stakeholders intended to coordinate policy or technical responses to an issue.
Reader FAQ
Has the promised summit on phone theft taken place?
The committee says no summit date has been confirmed; the government issued a 'holding reply' saying meetings were planned.
Are technical fixes like IMEI blocking being adopted?
Not confirmed in the source. Tech firms gave differing responses in evidence: Apple raised concerns about new risks, and Google emphasised cloud-based relationships.
How large is the phone-theft problem in London?
According to Met Police evidence to MPs, about 80,000 smartphones were reported stolen in London in 2024, up from roughly 64,000 in 2023.
Who is raising concerns in Parliament?
Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pressing for action.
PERSONAL TECH 28 UK.gov accused of Grinching Christmas by ignoring phone theft scourge Six months after expert testimony, no one has yet dialed into promised summit on technical solutions Joe…
Sources
- UK.gov accused of Grinching Christmas by ignoring phone theft scourge
- UK government criticized as phone thefts spiral unchecked
- Government complacent over phone theft, fails to commit to …
- Labour putting Christmas gifts 'at risk' by failing to tackle …
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