§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the number of mobile phones stolen each year;
(2) what representations he has received from manufacturers and retailers of mobile phones about the theft of their products; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make the rechipping of mobile phones illegal.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government are aware of estimates that between 10,000 and 12,000 mobile phones are stolen each month; however, no information on the number of such thefts is recorded centrally and we have no reliable means of making any estimate.
Nevertheless, we share the concern that the number of thefts seems to be increasing, and have received a number of representations on this subject from hon. Members and others, including the Federation of Communication Services. The Home Office is supporting the Department
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Fire-related deaths1 by age from fires attended by local authority fire brigades 1963 to 1992 United Kingdom Age groups: (a) 1963–68; (b) 1969–73; (c) 1974–77; (d) 1978–88; (e) 1989–92 Year Number of deaths by age group (a) 0–5 6–15 16–65 66+ Unspecified Total (b) 0–4 5–14 15–64 65+ (c) 0–4 5–14 15–59 60+ (d) 0–4 5–14 16–64 65+ (e) 0–4 5–16 16–64 65+ 1963 131 31 285 361 6 814 1964 110 39 265 264 3 681 1965 155 36 264 240 7 702 1966 145 34 301 295 2 777 1967 119 33 308 303 13 776 1968 158 42 349 293 18 860 1969 154 35 311 340 11 851 1970 128 38 315 338 17 836 1971 111 45 324 321 17 818 1972 134 60 410 437 25 1,066 1973 130 54 437 394 23 1,038 1974 120 66 346 475 31 1,038 21975 3— 3— 3— 3— 3— 920 1976 79 65 324 421 5 894 1977 80 53 255 326 4135 849 1978 64 53 375 380 471 943 1979 71 56 457 498 14 1,096 of Trade and Industry in its discussions with the mobile phone industry on what measures can be taken to reduce the theft of mobile phones, but we have no plans to make rechipping a criminal offence. Not all rechipping is carried out in relation to stolen telephones, and it would not be appropriate to criminalise what may be an entirely legitimate activity, for example in connection with the repair of mobile phones, or the legitimate sale of second-hand mobile phones. Those who steal mobile phones, or handle stolen goods are, of course, already guilty of criminal offences under the law as it stands.