Mobile phone theft soars

A mobile phone is stolen in the UK every three minutes - a problem which the government has called on manufacturers and police to help tackle.

Home Secretary Jack Straw said today that he will meet with mobile manufacturers and police to help tackle the growing rise of street robberies which target mobile phones.

According to police figures 15,000 mobiles are stolen every month, accounting for a third of all street crime in some areas. Many are stolen from school children.

"I've asked the mobile phone manufacturers and operators to come in and see me so that we can discuss ways in which we can improve security in the use of mobile telephones and reduce the attractiveness of the telephones to robbers," Straw told Sky TV.

The Home Secretary said he wants mobile manufacturers to introduce more security measures, such as PIN codes or passwords, for all phones. Industry estimates released last week indicated that around five million mobiles were sold in the run-up to Christmas.

However, Straw's announcement has been met with some scepticism by opposition politicians who have dismissed the plans as a waste of time and money.

Steve Thorpe, of the Telecoms Users' Association, said: "Whilst we all support any government incentive to reduce street crime, telling the mobile industry that it is their problem seems misplaced. Do we super-glue handsets to children's hands?"

"It strikes me that the Home Secretary has 'fired a salvo from the hip'. Presumably he does have research advisors? There is a key-lock function which if the mobile is stolen and the PIN is unknown then the phone does not work. Street crime is the issue but mobile phones are just the current symptom. It has been BMX bikes, trainers etc. In years to come it will be DVD players," he added.