The possession and distribution of electronic devices utilised in vehicle theft will soon be outlawed, with offenders facing a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Previously, legal action against individuals found with such devices—implicated in 40% of vehicle thefts across England—was only possible if law enforcement could prove they had been used in a specific crime.
Under the newly introduced legislation, the onus will now be on the individual in possession of the device to demonstrate that it is being used for a lawful purpose in order to avoid prosecution. The most common method used in vehicle theft or theft from a vehicle involves electronic tools, such as keyless repeaters and signal amplifiers, which interfere with remote locking signals.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales covering 2022 to 2023, in 40% of vehicle theft cases, criminals manipulated a remote locking signal to gain access. Furthermore, there were 732,000 instances of vehicle-related theft reported in the year leading up to September 2024. The Metropolitan Police Service also estimate that signal jammers are used in approximately 60% of vehicle theft cases in London.
Organised crime groups play a significant role in vehicle theft due to the demand for stolen vehicles, making it a highly profitable criminal enterprise. These criminals continuously seek ways to bypass security systems, even in the latest vehicle models, by identifying vulnerabilities in both vehicles and emerging technologies. Recent insurance industry data found that because of these criminals, claims in 2024 reached a staggering £11.7 billion, with the average vehicle theft claim rising to £11,200.
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing, Crime, and Fire Prevention, stated: “We are aware of the real concerns people feel with the use of these electronic devices being so prolific. This is why we are introducing new laws focused on tackling this issue at source. These new laws will prevent these devices from getting into the hands of thieves and organised crime groups.”