Merseyside Police Launch Phone Marking Ahead of Busy Christmas Weekend

As part of Operation Shepherd – the force’s proactive approach to keeping Merseyside safe over Christmas and New Year – officers hosted their first mobile phone marking event in the city centre today.

Whilst Merseyside Police regularly facilitate bike marking events across the county, mobile phone marking is a new approach being taken by the force, and this week officer’s received specialist training in order to begin the initiative.

Sergeant Craig Winstanley, who arranged the event at Liverpool One, thinks the scheme will be popular, especially with those who might receive expensive new phones for Christmas:

“Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. We use them for communication, entertainment, and even as a tool for work.  At this time of year, a lot of people will be hoping for a new one for Christmas.  If you are, we’d encourage you to get it marked.

“Mobile phone marking is the process of labelling your phone with a unique identification number that can be traced back to you. That makes it easier for us to track down your phone if it gets stolen. It also makes it harder for criminals to sell it, since it as it can be easily identified as stolen property.

“Getting your phone marked acts as a deterrent. If potential thieves see your phone is marked – they’re less likely to attempt to steal it - because it will be harder to sell.                                          

“It’s a busy weekend ahead – with lots of people coming into the city to shop, visit the markets and enjoy the nightlife. We want everyone to be safe, enjoy themselves and go home from a great time with all their valuables. The hundreds of people who have already taken us up on phone marking today have made a good first step.

“With all the crowds, we would encourage people to be mindful of their valuables.  Because of its relatively small size, a phone is an incredibly easy thing to lift out of someone’s bag or pocket, or even swipe from off a table in a restaurant or bar. Don’t leave your valuables unattended. Look out for your friends. Be safe and have fun.

“We’ve got additional officers out on patrol to help everyone feel safe. If you’re worried about anything, just come and speak to us and we’d be happy to help.”

Phones are marked in a similar way to bikes, by sticking a unique QR-Code to the device that is very difficult to remove.  The unique code assigned to the phone is then linked to your details and stored in a secure database.

If your phone is stolen and later found, police can simply scan the QR-Code and obtain your details from the Secure Asset database and reunite the phone with the victim.

For more information on phone marking events near you, follow your Local Policing Facebook page for updates.