The upcoming crime and policing bill, set to be introduced in parliament, introduces several measures that include enabling law enforcement to conduct searches without warrants for stolen phones and other items that have geotagging features. The bill primarily aims to apply to England and Wales, with a focus on low-level crimes such as theft and broader issues of anti-social behavior.
Among its many facets, the bill revisits proposals from the previous government’s criminal justice bill, such as the criminalization of using flares and face covers at protests and the prohibition on climbing certain war memorials. It will also give police more latitude to enter properties if location data suggests a stolen item is present and obtaining a warrant is unfeasible, which is especially relevant in cases like phone theft but can extend to any item locatable via cell signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or tracking devices.
The Home Office has hailed this amendment as a means to aid police in the “golden hour” of investigations, potentially leading to the recovery of more stolen property. The bill further includes measures such as introducing “respect orders” to jail individuals engaging in persistent anti-social behavior, new powers to seize vehicles used in such conduct, and making the assault of retail workers a specific offense.
Additionally, it will repeal a law that categorized shoplifting of items under £200 as less serious, make drink spiking and “cuckooing” (using vulnerable persons’ homes for criminal activity) specific crimes, and implement recommendations from Alexis Jay’s report on child abuse gangs, such as mandating certain professionals to report instances of abuse.
The bill is described as one of the most significant updates to crime and policing in decades, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasizing its commitment to addressing street crime and anti-social behavior, as well as tackling severe issues like knife crime and violence against vulnerable groups.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/25/police-new-powers-to-find-stolen-phones-crime-bill-england-wales
