๐ฒ Stay Safe This Summer with Operation Swipe
๐ 11:00 – 13:00 | ๐ Wednesday 18 June 2025 | ๐St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Main Hospital Square, EC1A 7BE
๐ค This summer, Culture Mile BID is teaming up with the City of London Police to support Operation Swipe, a new initiative aimed at tackling phone theft through free phone-marking events held across multiple City locations.
๐จ On select dates during busy lunchtime periods, uniformed City of London police officers, Culture Mile BID Ambassadors, and our Safe and Secure Manager, Beth Nash, will be available to help you mark your mobile phone at no cost. These informal sessions also provide a chance to meet your local policing team, ask questions and get advice on preventing theft and other crime-related concerns.
โ The Impact of Phone Theft
Phone theft has become a growing concern in the City of London, with organised groups targeting busy areas and commuters during peak hours. These crimes often happen in seconds but can have lasting impacts on victims, from data breaches to emotional distress. With smartphones holding sensitive personal and financial information, the consequences extend far beyond the loss of a device. The City of London Police have ramped up efforts to tackle this issue but raising public awareness and encouraging preventative action remain key to reducing thefts.
While phone theft canโt be entirely prevented, our goal at the Culture Mile BID is to help individuals feel safer and more informed while navigating the City. According to the City of London Police, hundreds of stolen phones are recovered each year but many canโt be returned to their owners due to a lack of identifiable information. Phone marking greatly increases the chances of getting your device back if itโs stolen.
๐ค Should I get My Phone Marked?
Phone marking is a simple but effective way to deter theft and increase the chances of recovering a stolen device. By registering your phone at this FREE event and marking it with a unique identification number, police can quickly trace it back to you if itโs lost or stolen. Marked phones are also less attractive to thieves, as they are harder to sell on the black market. This added layer of security not only helps protect your personal data but also supports police investigations, making it easier to reunite owners with their devices and hold offenders accountable.
๐จ Collaborate With Us
Culture Mile BID is also looking to partner with local businesses to host additional in-house phone-marking events throughout the City. If your organisation is interested in getting involved, please contact Beth Nash at beth.nash@culturemilebid.co.ukย for more details.