New law clamps down on electronic devices used for vehicle theft

New legislation has banned the possession or distribution of electronic devices that have been linked to 40% of vehicle thefts in England.

Previously, prosecution relied on the police proving that a device has been used in a specific crime. Under the new legal framework, however, anyone in possession of such a device will have to prove it is used for legal purposes.

Dame Diana Johnson, the minister for policing, crime and fire prevention, said: “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.”

The Department of Transport (DfT) will continue to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP) – an initiative which brings together stakeholders across various sectors to reduce vehicle-related crime.

Speaking on the revised law, Jenny Sims, acting chief constable and lead of the NVCRP, said: “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.”

The electronic devices work by scrambling the signal of remote locking mechanisms, allowing organised criminals to steal a vehicle or its contents. As car security technology evolves and demand for stolen vehicles rises, organised crime groups continue to exploit technological vulnerabilities. In 2024 alone, there were 732,000 vehicle-related thefts. According to the Metropolitan Police, signal jammers played a role in 60% of thefts in London.

AA president, Edmund King, said: As fast as vehicle technology has evolved, thieves have always tried to keep pace and beat the security systems. Relay theft and signal jamming is all too frequent and these measures will give police forces more opportunities to tackle car crime.”

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