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Met Demands Tech Action on Phone Theft by June

Financial Times Companies •
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London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner has called for new legislation unless smartphone manufacturers like Apple take stronger action against device theft. The Met wants handset providers to deliver concrete commitments by June to address the growing problem of phone snatching in the capital.

Police chiefs argue that tech companies have the technical capability to make stolen devices harder to resell and use. The push comes amid rising concerns about street crime targeting mobile phones, with law enforcement officials suggesting current anti-theft measures are insufficient. The commissioner emphasized that legislation may be necessary if voluntary industry action fails to materialize.

The ultimatum puts pressure on major tech companies to enhance their security features and anti-theft protocols. This follows years of debate about whether manufacturers could do more to deter phone theft through hardware and software solutions. The Met's stance signals a potential shift toward regulatory intervention if the industry doesn't demonstrate meaningful progress by the summer deadline.