MPs push for rapid tech solutions as UK mobile phone theft soars and crosses borders

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1. https://www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/tech-companies-not-doing-enough-32739199 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
2. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-23/tech-companies-not-doing-enough-to-stop-phone-theft-say-mps - UK Members of Parliament (MPs) have criticised tech companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Google, for not implementing technical measures to prevent mobile phone theft. The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee expressed concern that these companies are not taking sufficient action to 'design out' phone theft, such as preventing stolen devices from connecting to cloud accounts in foreign countries. The MPs also questioned the companies' claims that stolen phones are mainly sold for parts, citing data from the Metropolitan Police indicating that 78% of stolen devices were later connected to overseas networks. The committee urged the Home Secretary to take a 'robust stance' on this issue and convene a phone theft summit with tech companies and the police. Apple, Google, Samsung, and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.
3. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-samsung-apple-google-home-secretary-b1254672.html - UK MPs have called on tech companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Google, to implement technical measures to prevent mobile phone theft. The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee expressed concern that these companies are not taking sufficient action to 'design out' phone theft, such as preventing stolen devices from connecting to cloud accounts in foreign countries. The MPs also questioned the companies' claims that stolen phones are mainly sold for parts, citing data from the Metropolitan Police indicating that 78% of stolen devices were later connected to overseas networks. The committee urged the Home Secretary to take a 'robust stance' on this issue and convene a phone theft summit with tech companies and the police. Apple, Google, Samsung, and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.
4. https://www.newsweek.com/apple-google-face-accusations-enabling-thieves-through-device-policies-2081097 - Apple and Google have been accused by UK lawmakers and police officials of not doing enough to stem a lucrative international black market in stolen smartphones. During a parliamentary hearing, Members of Parliament and the Metropolitan Police called on the tech giants to block stolen devices from accessing cloud services, a move they argue would drastically reduce resale value and help deter theft. Police said they have recorded 80,000 stolen phones in London in 2024—a 25% rise from 2023. Most of the thefts involve iPhones, and officials estimate the trade generates up to £50 million ($67,837,542) annually. Many devices are trafficked abroad to markets in Algeria, China, and Hong Kong. The police want companies to block stolen smartphones based on their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and prevent them from accessing Apple and Google cloud services. While UK mobile networks already use IMEI blacklists, these blocks do not apply globally, which leaves a loophole for international criminal networks. Despite calls dating back to 2023, Apple and Google have not implemented the requested global blocks. Both companies raised concerns during the hearing that those measures could be exploited for fraud. 'We worry, and we have had these discussions with the Met, that there is a vector for fraud,' Gary Davis, global senior director for privacy and law enforcement at Apple, said during the session, as reported by The Register. Davis added, 'Every month, over 1,000 people try to imitate legitimate users to seek data from us and delete accounts.' Simon Wingrove, Google's software engineering manager, told MPs that 'Android devices can be blocked from accessing the cloud services after they are stolen,' but cautioned that changes based on IMEI data would require industry-wide coordination. Former policing minister Kit Malthouse said it seemed Apple was 'dragging your feet and sitting behind this is a very strong commercial incentive.' He added, 'The fact that £50m of phones are stolen in London every year—if that stopped, that would be £50m in sales that would be depressed.' In a statement to Newsweek, Google said, 'Google does not profit from phone theft. For years, Android has invested in advanced theft protection features, including the industry's first Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock, to help prevent theft and block stolen devices. We've built and evolved these features by listening to victims and partnering closely with law enforcement and industry.' Newsweek reached out to Apple requesting further comment on June 4. Security firms have suggested that a central cloud-level block tied to the IMEI system could be feasible, provided devices are registered from their first activation. Dion Price, CEO of the locking tech firm Trustonic, told MPs that his company offers that service for clients, according to The Register. 'If we get the signal from the legitimate owner of that device, then we can lock or unlock it within 30 seconds anywhere in the world,' he said. Meanwhile, police in London have begun deploying high-speed e-bikes to pursue snatchers and reported a 15% drop in thefts during April and May. However, officials warned this reduction is likely due to increased enforcement and public awareness, and is not a permanent fix.
5. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crackdown-to-halt-rise-in-phone-thefts - The UK government has pledged to crack down on 'snatch thefts' after this criminality soared by more than 150 per cent in the last year. An estimated 78,000 people had phones or bags grabbed from them on the streets, with policing intelligence suggesting that this is being driven by increased demand for second-hand smartphones, both in the UK and overseas. To tackle this challenge head-on, tech companies and manufacturers will be called to attend a Home Office summit on the issue, looking at the new innovations that could take on the illegal market. This will build on anti-theft smartphone features that some tech firms have already rolled out to protect their customers. The government will also task police chiefs to tackle this scourge in neighbourhood theft.
6. https://www.techdigest.tv/2025/06/google-and-apple-lock-horns-with-uk-police-over-soaring-mobile-phone-theft.html - Apple and Google are facing increasing pressure from the Metropolitan Police and MPs over how to tackle the surge in mobile phone thefts, which now account for a staggering two-thirds of all thefts in London. The dispute highlights a growing divide on the most effective strategies to combat this escalating crime wave. James Conway of the Met Police told the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee that phone theft is 'significantly driving parts of our violence problem,' with up to 70% of knife crime linked to robbery. To counter this, the Met is advocating for phone companies to use each device’s unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number to permanently block any handset reported as stolen, rendering it unusable globally. However, Apple and Google, who dominate the smartphone market, have voiced significant reservations about this approach. Gary Davis, Apple’s head of law enforcement requests, cautioned that 'Focusing on IMEI blocking might miss some of the problems.' He expressed concerns about potential fraud, stating: 'We worry that there is a vector for fraud… we are concerned about a world where it would be a person who claims to be the owner who’s asking.' Similarly, Google software engineering manager Simon Wingrove emphasized the need for an 'industry-wide discussion' on altering the global IMEI database, which is currently managed by network carriers. While stolen devices are already blocked from use within the UK by phone networks, criminals can often bypass device security and reactivate them in other countries. The Met’s chief technology officer, Darren Scates, revealed that 75% of stolen phones are moved abroad, with 28% ending up in China or Hong Kong. He urged cloud providers to prevent lost or stolen devices from connecting to their services, a request he says has been unheeded since October 2023. Some MPs openly accused the tech firms of being reluctant to act. Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley stated: 'You could tomorrow stop phones that are on the IMEI blacklist connecting back to your services if you so wished, both of you, and you won’t do it.' Both companies, however, highlighted their recent security enhancements, such as Apple’s 'Stolen Device Protection' and Android’s 'Theft Detection Lock,' suggesting these are their primary defences. Apple’s Davis stressed that 'Activation Lock' is their 'best protection,' arguing it disrupts the second-hand parts market. Despite the tech firms’ advancements, MPs like Kit Malthouse expressed frustration, feeling the companies were 'dragging their feet' on IMEI blocking, given the estimated £50 million-a-year trade in stolen phones in London.
7. https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/tech-companies-not-doing-enough-to-stop-phone-theft-say-mps-WZ4RTOX7RRKQZDCK3ITYRYKJYQ/ - UK MPs have criticised tech companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Google, for not implementing technical measures to prevent mobile phone theft. The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee expressed concern that these companies are not taking sufficient action to 'design out' phone theft, such as preventing stolen devices from connecting to cloud accounts in foreign countries. The MPs also questioned the companies' claims that stolen phones are mainly sold for parts, citing data from the Metropolitan Police indicating that 78% of stolen devices were later connected to overseas networks. The committee urged the Home Secretary to take a 'robust stance' on this issue and convene a phone theft summit with tech companies and the police. Apple, Google, Samsung, and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.