Information regarding subscriber checks to find the owner/user of a telephone number

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033952

I note you seek access to the following information:

Please could you provide me with some information regarding subscriber checks, eg when you need to find the owner/user of a telephone number.

1. Who is the provider for the subscriber checks? / Who do you contact to make a check?

2. How much does each subscriber check cost in GBP?

3. In the last 12 months from receiving this request, how many subscriber checks have you performed?

4. Is it possible to check ‘No Caller ID’ or ‘Withheld’ phone numbers?”

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Who is the provider for the subscriber checks? / Who do you contact to make a check?

The individual Telephone operators provide the subscribers details. There are 100s of providers we go to whichever company own that phone number e.g EE, three Vodafone, Tesco, Lyca, Lebara etc.

Q2 - How much does each subscriber check cost in GBP?

Costs do vary between individual Telephone operators, but generally these cost less than £20.

Q3 - In the last 12 months from receiving this request, how many subscriber checks have you performed?

The MPS has requested 109350 subscriber requests.

Q4 - Is it possible to check ‘No Caller ID’ or ‘Withheld’ phone numbers?”.

In some circumstances, and with proper authority, Law enforcement agencies can make enquiries to seek the identity of withheld numbers.