A new law in England and Wales means that owning a £6 gadget can now lead to a five-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. The Labour Party government has introduced the Crime and Policing Act 2026 to crack down on criminal gangs involved in vehicle theft.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, nearly 122,000 car thefts were reported in England and Wales. The new legislation makes it illegal to make, own, import, modify, supply, or offer to supply any electronic device capable of being used to steal a car.
Possession Offence Targets Theft Devices
Thatcham Research explained that the law change "creates a new possession offence targeting electronic theft devices, enabling police to intervene where the suspect cannot prove a legitimate use and seize devices without needing to link them to a completed theft."
Electronic devices used by criminals can be bought for as little as £6, with signal jammers being among the most popular. The new law "increases the chances of successful prosecution for the possession of devices that very few people have legitimate use for, allowing law enforcement to disrupt organised criminal gangs," the research organisation added.
Government and Industry Support
The Home Office stated: "A significant proportion of vehicle theft is driven by organised crime groups, which costs hundreds of millions of pounds in social and economic harm each year. There is a demand for stolen vehicles, which means this is a highly attractive and lucrative area for criminals to gain profit from selling stolen vehicles and vehicle parts."
Jonathan Hewett, chief executive of Thatcham Research, said: "This is a landmark moment, and one Thatcham Research and the wider industry have been working towards for many years. Relay attack and key emulation devices exist for one purpose: to steal vehicles. Previously, taking action against individuals caught with these tools was very difficult unless it could be linked to a specific reported crime. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 fundamentally changes that equation. This Act creates a new possession offence, placing the burden on the individual to demonstrate a legitimate purpose, and allowing devices to be seized before any crime is committed. We welcome this change wholeheartedly."
The new law aims to disrupt organised criminal networks and reduce the social and economic impact of vehicle theft, which costs the country hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
