New bid to put off 'mobile muggers'

The Government is introducing proposals today making it a criminal offence to re-program a mobile phone, in an attempt to curb escalating street crime.

In a new Bill published tomorrow, Home Office Minister John Denham is putting forward plans aimed at helping to discourage "mobile muggings".

Each handset is equipped with an identity number, known as an IMEI, which can be cancelled when phones are stolen.

But thieves can then reprogram the handset, making them usable once more.

Many phones are stolen for use outside Britain.

None of the 40 million-plus mobile phones in this country has technological functions that prevent them from being stolen, resold and reused.

The theft of mobile phones has soared with one handset stolen every minute, according to an official report, and the muggers are thought to be responsible for up to half the street thefts in London.

Mr Denham has called on manufacturers and operators to bring in new measures to make the phones less attractive to thieves

He said: "A start has been made, but more needs to be done before Britain's mobile phone system can lead the world in security."