UK moves to block stolen mobile phones

Britain is taking strong steps to make sure that the owners of stolen mobile handsets are no longer able to use them.

The industry leaders have pledged to a commitment to make sure that as many as 80% of mobile phones will be blocked on all five UK networks within 48 hours of being reported stolen in future.

This is part of the initiative launched by the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum. It would be applicable by the end of the year but would skip the handsets, which are on foreign networks.

However, police has said that it would still be possible (though very difficult) to get these handsets reactivated in the country.

Jack Wraith chairman of MICAF said in a statement: “Currently there is no accountability on networks where blocking phones is concerned. The networks are now answerable and they will get named and shamed by us if they fail to stick to the charter. I have every faith that they will do their best to meet the criteria laid down in the charter.”