 About 328 mobile phones are stolen in London every day |
A new crime to prevent mobile phones from being doctored is to be introduced under the government's forthcoming Violent Crime Bill. The Home Office says the new law will make it easier to arrest people for reprogramming stolen mobiles so they can be used again.
An average of 328 mobile phones are stolen in London every day - half of them from under-18s.
The bill also has measures to tackle yob behaviour and knife crime.
The measures are aimed at reducing the numbers of street robberies and mobile phone thefts.
Under the Mobile Telephones (Reprogramming) Act 2002, it is illegal to reprogramme a phone, or use equipment to reprogramme with the intention to do so.
Internet access
Reprogramming a mobile is changing its unique 14-17 digit serial number, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity).
This is blocked from the owner's network and any other network when it is reported stolen, rendering it useless.
 |  We want to tighten up the legislation on it to try to prevent the doctoring of stolen mobiles |
However, equipment is available on the internet which can reprogramme the phone's IMEI number.
The Violent Crime Bill will make it illegal to offer or agree to reprogramme a phone, rather than the act of doing it.
The new law will be similar to those preventing ticket touts offering tickets for resale.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We want to tighten up the legislation on it to try to prevent the doctoring of stolen mobiles."
Phone register
Jack Wraith, of the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum, said his organisation had found no evidence to suggest that blocking of the new generation of mobile phones had recently been compromised.
"But that day will come and we will have to catch up with them again," he told The Guardian.
He said about two-thirds of phones in use were old generation and were still vulnerable to being doctored.
Earlier this year a website was launched to help combat mobile phone crime.
Users can register their details on the National Mobile Phone Register free of charge.
The register allow stolen or lost handsets to be matched with their owners. It also makes it easier for mobile phone thieves to be prosecuted.
The scheme is run by the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) which specialises in street crime involving mobile phones.
It only takes a couple of minutes and it is completely free.
The Violent Crime Bill will also introduce a ban on the sale of knives to under-18s and aims to reduce the availability of replica guns and binge drinking.
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