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Londoners need EU action on mobile phone thefts
April 10, 2003 12:00 AM
Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, LibDem Euro-MP for London, has urged the European Commission to take action on the problem of mobile phone theft and reprogramming, insisting that there should be increased efforts to tackle this cross-border problem with a European crackdown. She says:
"The UK has set an excellent example, leading the way in outlawing reprogramming of stolen phones and cooperation among all operators to immobilise them."
"But international measures are needed, as the main markets for phones stolen in the UK are abroad. So we need to roll these initiatives across the EU. An international database of stolen mobile phone serial numbers (IMEI numbers) is an essential tool against these criminals, but EU-wide criminalising of reprogramming would also help."
However the response from home affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino was not encouraging. In response to Sarah's question in Parliament, the Commission said that the European Crime Prevention Network was discussing the issue, but that he "did not foresee [the European Commission] tabling a proposal on this subject."
Sarah added: "It is sad that, with the potential to address the problem at an EU level our best advice given to people is still to be careful who sees you using the phone."
"Mobile phones are involved in a third of robberies in the UK as a whole, but in a stunning 48% of robberies in London. Tackling this crime could have a huge effect on citizens' lives - a recent study shows that up to one-third of people in the EU fear that they could be a victim. So I will continue to campaign for EU action on a legitimate topic for cross-border crime cooperation."
Through a call to a single helpline (08701 123123), victims can get their handset blacklisted in the UK.
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