Met Police Commissioner Demands Courts Stop Bail for Prolific Phone Thieves
The head of Britain's largest police force has issued a stark warning to the judicial system, urging courts to cease granting bail to repeat offenders involved in mobile phone theft across London. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley emphasized that releasing these criminals allows them to immediately return to the streets and commit further crimes, undermining police efforts to combat this pervasive issue.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Scale of Phone Theft Epidemic
Newly released data from the Metropolitan Police paints a concerning picture of phone theft in the capital. Recorded incidents decreased from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 in 2025, yet the numbers remain alarmingly high. Detailed breakdowns show that in 2023, there were 52,820 thefts from persons where phones were taken and 14,326 robberies. The following year saw these figures rise to 70,249 thefts and 11,125 robberies, with 2025 recording 61,292 thefts and 10,207 robberies.
Freedom of Information requests reveal an even more staggering long-term trend: between 2017 and February 2024, a total of 587,498 phones were stolen in London (excluding the City of London), with only 13,998 recovered. This means approximately 573,500 stolen devices were never returned to their owners during this seven-year period.
Recent Police Operations Yield Significant Results
In just the past month, Metropolitan Police officers have made 248 arrests related to phone theft and recovered approximately 770 stolen handsets. One particularly successful operation resulted in the arrest of 32 suspected members of an organized crime gang that was actively recruiting children as young as 14 through social media advertisements to steal phones.
During this operation, police seized 1,000 mobile phones and 200 laptops that were destined to be smuggled overseas. Sir Mark Rowley highlighted these achievements, stating: "Over the past year, we've made hundreds of arrests and recovered tens of thousands of stolen devices. That work has meant 10,000 fewer people facing the stress, cost and disruption that comes with having their phone stolen."
Call for Industry Collaboration and Judicial Reform
Sir Mark emphasized that policing alone cannot solve the phone theft crisis. He called on mobile phone manufacturers and telecommunications companies to implement stronger security measures that would make it significantly more difficult for criminals to reset, reuse, or resell stolen devices.
The Commissioner specifically addressed the judicial system, stating: "We need the courts to play their part by preventing repeat offenders being bailed only to go out and offend again, undermining the hard work officers are doing to keep communities safe."
Technological Innovations and Mayoral Initiatives
The Metropolitan Police is deploying advanced technology to combat phone thieves more effectively. Officers are now utilizing drones for aerial surveillance, e-bikes to pursue criminals who use bicycles or electric scooters, and live facial recognition technology to identify suspects in real-time.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed allocating £4.5 million in funding specifically to address phone theft. This initiative includes creating a dedicated command cell to respond to thefts and robberies in the West End. Mayor Khan stated: "Too many Londoners have been the victim of phone theft. Our new intensive action is putting us on the front foot when tackling phone thieves and dismantling the gangs behind the scourge of thefts here in London."
The Mayor further explained how new technologies are enhancing police capabilities: "New drones are supporting officers to capture evidence and improve intelligence gathering, and new e-bikes are helping officers outpace and outmanoeuvre criminals who use bicycles or electric motorbikes and scooters to commit phone thefts or evade police."
Mayor Khan concluded with a commitment to continued action: "I'll continue to prioritise neighbourhood policing and will continue to push the mobile phone industry to go much further in preventing stolen phones being used, sold and repurposed, building a safer London for everyone."
