Mobile phone crime in London has fallen significantly over the last three years, new figures released today reveal. The London-based National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) was set up in December 2003 with Home Office funding to combat street crime and the number of mobile phones stolen during these incidents.

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Run by the Met, the unit tackles those involved in mobile phone criminality, focusing on the handlers, re-programmers and exporters of stolen mobile phones.

Working in partnership with the Government, the telecommunication industry and police forces across the UK, the NMPCU also sets out to disrupt and reduce the opportunity for theft of mobile phones and address the false reporting of mobile phone crime.

Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 (the financial year the unit was formed), there were 120,498 mobile phone offences within the Met area. This compares with 107,807 offences during the financial year 2004/05 and 108,177 offences during 2005/06.

During the current financial year (April 1 to September 31 06), there have been 52,708 offences - a five per cent reduction on the same period last year and a 17.5% reduction on the year when the unit was formed.

This success is attributed to a combination of proactive operations run across London under the Safer Streets initiative, close working between the unit and borough colleagues and strong partnerships with the Home Office and mobile phone industry.

Det Supt Steve Bending, the head of the unit, said:

"I'm extremely pleased that the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, working in partnership with London boroughs, has been able to bring about substantial reductions in mobile phone crime over the last three years. Our partnership approach with the Home Office and mobile phone industry has enabled us to ensure long-term reductions against a background of increased mobile phone ownership in the UK."

The NMPCU would like to encourage all mobile phone users to register their
details at www.immobilise.com

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