MICAF relaunches website

It follows the recent fatal stabbing of a London youth who intervened when another group of youths attempted to steal his friend’s mobile.

MICAF chairman Jack Wraith said: “Anybody in that situation should let them take the phone. Possessions are only possessions – it’s not worth escalating the confrontation.

“The industry has made it quite clear that stealing a phone is a worthless activity as our blocking technology is quite robust.”

The new MICAF website, “Out of Your Hands”, went live last week, ahead of the group sending a mail-out to all secondary schools.

Wraith said it now featured a drama resource for 11 to 14 year-olds to help them understand the impact of mobile phone crime. Students explore a mobile theft by taking on the roles of victim, thief and potential stolen phone buyer.

Wraith said: “We have to engage young people in their language. The feedback we get is we have created a proactive package for schools to use.”