Home Secretary Calls for Smartphone 'Kill Switch' to Curb Rising Theft

Yvette Cooper urges tech companies to enhance anti-theft measures as police report industrial-scale phone theft driven by organized crime.

Smartphone thefts have surged, with over 78,000 reported in England and Wales last year, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper chaired a summit with police, tech companies, and government officials to address the issue and push for stronger anti-theft measures.
Proposed solutions include introducing a 'kill switch' to render stolen phones unusable and making IMEI numbers accessible on lock screens for easier tracking.
The Metropolitan Police recently seized over 1,000 stolen phones and arrested 230 suspects in a week-long operation targeting organized crime networks profiting from stolen devices.
Law enforcement is advocating for expanded powers to quickly search suspected locations of stolen phones and prevent their resale or reactivation.