Tracking modes, when a phone has been stolen
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.035118
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. Why police will not use find my iPhone, or other tracking modes, when a phone has been stolen.
2. In what cases they would use this to get a stolen phone back
3. Who I can contact to complain about the fact that they refuse to follow up on street muggings
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
With reference to Q.1 & 2, in theory, if ‘Find my iPhone’ is enabled, it can assist the police to recover a stolen phone, however, location accuracy is not totally effective and this is because in built-up areas such as London, a stolen phone could be shown as being at a particular location but in reality, that location could cover a range of properties (houses/flats close to each other, etc.)
Callers often report to us that they are tracking their stolen property via another app, and on most occasions these devices/applications are accurate and could lead to a suspect being arrested and/or stolen property being recovered. However at present we only recover a small fraction of the over 12,000 phones stolen by means of robbery or theft snatch.
The general advice to officers is to follow all reasonable lines of enquiry.
Operation Ringtone is the Met’s response to victim-enabled tracking devices following the theft of a phone or tablet. The principal aim, whenever possible, is the recovery of stolen property and/or the apprehension of criminals.
There is a range of information already in the public domain regarding Operation Ringtone and this includes a report by the Home Office on ‘Reducing Mobile Phone Theft and Improving Security’ which may be of interest and I have provided a link below for your reference:
Home Office - Reducing Mobile Phone Theft and Improving Security.PDF
With reference to Q.3 in relation to police complaints, this information is already available in the public domain and I have therefore provided a link below for your reference:
MPS - How to complain about the Police