Funding totalling 250,000 has been earmarked to help police tackle mobile phone theft, the Home Office has announced.
The money will be used to unite the Police National Computer (PNC) to the National Mobile Phone Register (NMPR), allowing officers to instantly check if a phone has been registered stolen by the owner via one call over a police radio.
"The rapidly developing nature of mobile technology means we must continue to work together to eliminate any future opportunities for criminals to profit from mobile theft," said Alan Campbell, Home Office minister.
He added: "There is already a great deal of good work being done by the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit and industry to ensure new technology has anti-crime safeguards built in at the earliest stage and I know that will continue."
Approximately 22 million phones are currently registered on the NMPR.
Tim Godwin, assistant deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on mobile phone crime, said: "The NMPR has been a key driver in tackling mobile phone crime [and] has already contributed to year-on-year reductions in mobile phone crime."
He added: "This funding will improve the accessibility and efficiency of the NMPR, allowing police forces across the country to target acquisitive crime involving mobile phones."
