Less than 1% of phone thefts result in charge - as even PM’s former top aide falls victim to phone snatching epidemic

EMBARGO: 2230 Sunday 29th March 

• Over 99% of phone thefts reported to police did not result in a charge, according to Freedom of Information requests by the Liberal Democrats.
• Phone theft epidemic is worst in the capital with just 0.3% cases resulting in a charge
• The party has called for a crackdown with a dedicated team in the National Crime Agency

The Liberal Democrats have said that stealing phones has ‘effectively been decriminalised’, as Freedom of Information requests by the party revealed just 1% of all phone thefts resulted in a charge by police.

The shocking new data from 2024/25 shows how police forces are struggling to identify those responsible for stealing phones, with 9 in 10 cases being closed before a suspect is found. The figures come after Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had his own phone snatched in London, the case was initially closed by the police immediately after he reported it.

In total, the Freedom of Information requests uncovered a total of 86,262 cases, with only 0.82% of cases resulting in a charge, across 17 forces.

The capital is the worst affected region from the scourge of phone theft, with just 0.3% of the 69,762 cases resulting in someone being charged. Other forces including Dorset, Northamptonshire and Surrey, recorded charges in single figures despite there being hundreds of cases recorded in each area.

In urban areas ‘phone snatching’ has become the norm, with devices sold on by gangs.

The Liberal Democrats have called for a crackdown operated by a dedicated team in the National Crime Agency, to stop the daylight robbery of phone theft. The unit would work with local forces to carry out targeted operations in theft hotspots so officers can catch offenders and uncover wider criminal networks. It would also coordinate the collection and sharing of intelligence and best practice across forces, helping to build a national picture of mobile phone theft and improve the policing response.

The Liberal Democrats have also called on the Government to tighten up regulations to ensure all phone providers are immediately mandated to disable stolen phones, effectively killing the market for reselling which has been exploited by criminal gangs.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said:

“Morgan McSweeney having his phone stolen was just the tip of the iceberg. People could be forgiven for concluding phone theft has been effectively decriminalised. Criminal gangs are feeling emboldened to strike in broad daylight, safe in the knowledge they have a less than 1% chance of ever being caught.

“A stolen phone isn't just an expensive item, it holds your entire digital life, from bank accounts to private messages. The fact that thousands of these cases are closed without a suspect even being named is a slap in the face to victims.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling time on this phone snatching epidemic. It's time for a dedicated National Crime Agency unit to track down the professional gangs behind these thefts and end the era of daylight robbery.”

ENDS

Notes to Eds

Figures for the financial year 2024/25. Full data here.

FOI 

Q1. Can you provide us with the total number of phone theft incidents recorded by your police force for the year 2024/25?

Q2. Can you also provide a breakdown of all outcome types for the recorded cases, in particular for

these two outcomes:

• Investigation complete – no suspect identified

• Charged/Summonsed