Met Police Calls on Tech Companies to Implement Stolen Phone Lockdown
Met Police calls on tech firms – The London Metropolitan Police has urged technology corporations to adopt measures that would render stolen smartphones nearly unuseable, aiming to curb the profitability of theft for criminals. This initiative follows a directive issued by the police chief in March, demanding that companies take steps to diminish the appeal of stolen devices in the resale market.
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, highlighted the need for the home secretary to pass laws requiring telecom providers to disclose information on stolen handsets. Such data would include whether the devices are being reconnected to cellular networks, according to the force. “When stolen phones can’t be reactivated, their market value drops significantly, which in turn reduces the motivation for theft,” he stated.
Collaboration with Apple and Security Advances
The Met Police disclosed on Thursday that it has begun exchanging data with Apple to create a comprehensive overview of the fate of stolen phones. This includes tracking if they are reconnected to networks. Sir Mark noted that only a small fraction of stolen phones are now being reactivated, compared to earlier months, thereby “making it harder for criminals to profit.”
“Our priority is safeguarding users, their devices, and data. We design security features that deter criminal activity at its source,” said Kate Adams, Apple’s senior vice-president of government affairs.
According to the Met, both Samsung and Google have also introduced security updates to address the issue. In addition to pushing for industry-wide changes, the police have deployed e-bikes, drones, and live facial recognition technology to monitor and reduce theft incidents on the city’s streets.
Technology as a Tool for Crime Prevention
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist emphasized the role of drones in providing real-time aerial footage to a centralized control room, helping to identify thieves on e-bikes. He also reiterated the need for phone providers to complicate the reprogramming of stolen devices. “Theft is often driven by the potential to export these phones, which retain high value in markets like China where restrictions are fewer,” he explained.
Last year, the Met dismantled a transnational group suspected of smuggling as many as 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China. Authorities estimate that this gang could be accountable for up to half of all London’s stolen phone exports.
In London, where theft rates remain elevated, the number of personal robberies involving phones dropped by 18% between June 2025 and May 2026. In Westminster alone, such thefts fell by 45.8% this year. However, the mayor, Sadiq Khan, has expressed concern over the lack of a kill switch feature. He questioned: “Why can’t phone providers prevent stolen devices from being used or reset through cloud access?”
