Law Enforcement Joins Forces with Recycling Mobile Phone Industry
The U.K. government has joined up with the mobile phone recycling industry to close a gap that might lessen the lucrative business of phone theft.
White Hat News reports that too many stolen phones end up being reused in developing nations, but not anymore, at least, not in the U.K.
The government, police and mobile phone industry joined forces to sign an agreement designed so that the recycling mobile phone industry has agreed to a code of practice to identify and report stolen phones whenever any are offered for sale.
Before this agreement was signed, the mobile phone industry bought unwanted handsets for resale to developing countries. It's an excellent practice of reduce, reuse, and recycle, but not so when the phone is stolen.
Now, under the new code, mobile firms must check against a national database and inform the police when the handset is identified as stolen. The mobile phone recycling firms will not only refuse to buy stolen phones but it would also immediately inform to the Police.
Such a move is expected to reduce the theft rate and other global crime as well.
About 20 Mobile recycling firms have agreed to abide by this code of practice which comprises about 90% of the industry.
Crime prevention minister James Brokenshire said: “By joining forces with the police, the mobile phone industry is closing a multimillion-pound loophole that has been exploited by criminals, and the Recycling Mobile Phone Industry deserves round of applaud.
“The industry welcomes this very important initiative on the part of the recyclers. “ Said Jack Wraith, of the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum.
Not only is such an agreement and practice significant in reducing theft and fueling other crimes that depend on cheap, reused phones, a fall in mobile phone theft would lead to a reduced need to replace phones. After all, not many of us readily set aside a fund-for-replacing-my-stolen-phone.
Besides, less need for buying a new phone translates to less pressure on manufacturers to produce more phones, which in the end, generate more e-waste. It's better for the environment and everyone, except for the phone thieves and those in questionable work who depend on untraceable phones!
Seeing that the U.S. has far more people with mobile phones than the U.K., perhaps American law enforcement should consider joining forces with the mobile phone industry too. Then, the walls would really close in on those who want to filch your Blackberry, iPhone4 or any phone, taking with them all your personal information, phone numbers and e-mails of all your contacts.
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