Beat Police get instant access to database recording mobile thefts

Police on the beat will now be able to search the National Mobile Property Register (NMPR) to check whether mobile devices have been stolen.

The NMPR database set up in 2004 includes data on stolen or lost mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets, iPads and even bikes.

According to the Metropolitan Police Mobile Phone Crime Unit, mobile phone theft in particular is a significant problem. Each year more than 350,000 are stolen in the UK. Each month officers make around 25,000 searches of the NMPR register, which is run by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

But this has been a time-consuming process, taking 20 minutes or longer as officers on the beat have to contact their force control room to request a search of the register.

The National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) has now integrated the register with the Police National Computer. Using handheld computers, officers can search the database themselves.

 Detective Chief Superintendent Mick McNally of the MPS' Territorial Policing Command, said: "For the first time front-line officers can now obtain instantaneous results of searches on suspected stolen mobile phones.

"It sends a clear message to phone thieves that police and partners can identify stolen mobile phones in the hands of the thief or another individual."

People can log the details of their devices, such as IMEI and serial numbers on the Immobilise website, which links directly with the NMPR. If a device is lost or stolen, the police can identify it and return it to its rightful owner.

To avoid buying stolen property, people can use the sister site, Checkmend.