UK Ministers Warn of Legislation to Force Phone Makers to Add Anti-Theft Protections

The UK government has said it could pursue new legislation to compel mobile phone manufacturers and network providers to introduce stronger "anti-theft protections" on devices, according to the policing minister.

Speaking to the BBC, the minister said that while the government would prefer companies to act voluntarily to reduce phone thefts, ministers were prepared to legislate if there was no significant improvement in theft figures.

The comments come amid ongoing concern in the UK over rising rates of phone theft, particularly in major cities, where stolen devices are often targeted for resale or dismantled for parts.

Details of what specific anti-theft measures the government might require have not yet been outlined. The BBC reported that any decision on legislation would depend on whether industry-led efforts succeed in curbing theft rates in the near term.

The government has not specified a timeline for reviewing progress or set out what threshold of improvement would avoid the need for new laws.