Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

Out-Law News 1 min. read

Reprogramming a mobile phone will be an offence in the UK


A UK Bill aimed at tackling the rise in mobile phone theft received its second reading in the House of Lords last week. New offences in the Bill could mean five years in prison and unlimited fines for those re-programming stolen mobile phones.

The Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Bill backs moves by mobile phone operators to bar stolen phones from their networks. It contains proposals that would create new offences of:

  • Changing the unique identifying characteristic of a mobile phone – the IMEI number without written permission from the manufacturer; and
  • Owning or supplying the necessary equipment with the intent to use it for re-programming mobile phones.

Government figures suggest that stolen mobiles are now involved in 50% of all robberies in London. Home Office Minister John Denham said:

“Mobile phone operators will soon have the necessary systems in place to enable them to bar stolen phones across all networks – putting them out of use. But if the unique ID, or IMEI, number is changed on a stolen phone, it could continue to be used. This Bill would mean those seeking to change the IMEI on a phone could face five years in prison. It makes re-programming stolen phones a crime in its own right and backs up police efforts to tackle handling of stolen goods.

“There is no legitimate reason to re-program a mobile phone. Those doing so run the risk of heavy penalties – penalties they deserve because they are fuelling violent street crime.”

An IMEI number is a unique 15-digit serial number for each mobile phone. It can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones, or by looking behind the battery of the phone.

We are processing your request. \n Thank you for your patience. An error occurred. This could be due to inactivity on the page - please try again.