14 DAY TRIAL // Eighty per cent of stolen handsets will be blocked on all five UK networks within 48 hours of being reported stolen to their home network, mobile phone industry leaders will pledge today. Working in partnership with the Government and police, the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum (MICAF) and mobile phone industry leaders launched an industry charter detailing objectives and initiatives to help reduce mobile phone crime.
The Home Secretary John Reid welcomed the charter, and pledged ?1.35 (US$2.5) million funding for a national centre of excellence - the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) - to bolster local and national action to disrupt stolen phone markets.
The charter represents a major improvement in the process of blocking stolen mobile phones, making them less attractive to criminals. The blocking target represents a world first in using this type of process, and shows industry leaders' commitment to play their part in helping to reduce mobile phone theft in the UK.
The Home Secretary is also backing the industry charter with a cash-point (ATM) advertising campaign during August 2006 in the areas most affected by robbery, raising public awareness about keeping valuables safe on the street.
Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum (MICAF) Chair Jack Wraith said: "This charter documents the future commitment of the mobile phone industry, via MICAF, to continue to work in partnership with law enforcement agencies and the Home Office on these very important issues. The charter clearly sets out the key steps the industry will take to help cut mobile phone theft further so as to ensure that people can continue to use their phones, safe in the knowledge that measures are in place that will make them worthless to thieves if they are stolen.