A new law could send criminals caught with gadgets, including signal jammers, used to steal keyless cars to prison for up to five years.
Under the Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday, possessing, selling, or distributing these electronic devices will be banned.
These gadgets can block remote locks, allowing thieves to access cars without the keys. Organised crime gangs often use them to target high-end vehicles.
Currently, criminals can only be prosecuted if there’s evidence they used the devices to commit a crime. The new law will flip the burden of proof, requiring the owner to show the device is being used for legitimate reasons.
In the year ending September 2024, there were 732,000 vehicle-related thefts, according to the Home Office. The 2022/23 Crime Survey for England and Wales found that in 40% of vehicle thefts, the offender used a signal-jamming device.
In London, it’s estimated that signal jammers are involved in around 60% of vehicle thefts.
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said "These thefts have a devastating effect on victims, who need their vehicles to go about their everyday lives.
"We are aware of the real concerns people feel with the use of these electronic devices being so prolific."
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for vehicle crime, echoed her concerns, stating "These devices have no legitimate purpose, apart from assisting in criminal activity, and reducing their availability will support policing and industry in preventing vehicle theft which is damaging to both individuals and businesses."
