Revealed: New figures show 'only 15 people charged out of 305 phone thefts reported to North Yorkshire Police'
Harrogate MP Tom Gordon is calling for a crackdown on phone thefts with a return to “proper neighbourhood policing” after what he said were alarming new figures.
The MP’s concern follows Freedom of Information requests by the Liberal Democrats revealing that only 15 of 305 of phone thefts reported to North Yorkshire Police resulted in a charge.
Mr Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is warning that stealing phones has “effectively been decriminalised”, as the FOI requests by the Liberal Democrats showed that less than 5% of all phone thefts resulted in a charge by North Yorkshire Police.
“People could be forgiven for concluding phone theft has been effectively decriminalised,” said Tom Gordon MP.
"Criminal gangs are feeling emboldened to strike in broad daylight, safe in the knowledge they have a less than 4.92% chance of ever being caught.
“A stolen phone isn't just an expensive item, it holds your entire digital life, from bank accounts to private messages.
"The fact that so many cases are closed by North Yorkshire Police without a suspect even being named is a slap in the face to victims across the county.
The new data from 2024/25 shows how police forces are struggling to identify those responsible for stealing phones, with 67.54 % of cases being closed before a suspect is found.
In total, the Freedom of Information requests uncovered a total of 305 cases, with only 15 of cases resulting in a charge by North Yorkshire Police.
Nationally, The Liberal Democrats have said the Government must crackdown by restoring proper community policing and having more bobbies on the beat to keep our streets safe.
The Party is calling for a ‘Police Counter Promise’, guaranteeing a staffed police desk in every community, to give people peace of mind that phone theft is being taken seriously.
Harrogate MP Tom Gordon said: “The Liberal Democrats are calling time on this phone snatching epidemic.
"The Government should get on with guaranteeing a police desk in every community, and restoring neighbourhood policing, only then will we be able to crack down on this daylight robbery.”