MOBILE PHONE THEFT

Early day motion 601, tabled 26 January 2005 by Lord Beamish (Labour). Signed by 125 members.

That this House notes that a mobile phone is taken in half of all robberies and that in 30 per cent. of robberies, it is the only item stolen; recognises, therefore, that tackling mobile phone theft is key to reducing street crime;further notes that the Mobile Telephone (Re-programming) Act 2002 has made it illegal to re-programme a phone's IMEI number or to possess or supply the equipment needed to re-programme phones with the intend of doing so; believes that there is a need to make it easier for the police to prosecute under the Act, which will enable them to disrupt the market for stolen mobile phones more effectively; and calls on the Government to support measures to make it an offence to offer or agree to re-programme a phone, or to have a phone re-programmed.

Signatures by party: Labour 93, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 6, Labour/Co-operative 6, DUP 2, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1.