POLICE in Derwentside have criticised phone companies for not helping in the fight against mobile phone theft.

Consett-based detective inspector Simon Orton discovered that by dialling in a simple code into their phones, owners could call up a security number exclusive to each handset.

The number can then be passed on to police and can end up as vital evidence.

Det Insp Orton's colleagues asked phone companies to contact their customers to tell them of the device - but were disappointed with the response.

Det Insp Orton said that if customers kept a record of their phone's individual number and passed it on to police the chance of eventually recovering stolen phones was dramatically increased.

Armed with the idea Derwentside's community safety specialist, Sgt Dave Scott, invited major phone companies to send text messages to owners alerting them to the measure.

"With the exception of Orange, which already keeps the details on behalf of owners, the major companies seemed to drag their feet. Frankly their reaction was very disappointing, they seemed pre-occupied with selling phones and showed little interest in security."

In spite of the reaction Derwentside police decided to push the idea in any case. They have printed 10,000 leaflets to be circulated to shops, schools, surgeries and other public buildings.

Sgt Scott said: "When I spoke to the companies they promised to get back to me but no-one has. Hopefully they will re-think and respond positively."

Mobile phone company Vodafone said it had launched a national six point plan to combat the crime. A spokesman for BT Cellnet said the company already advises new customers to keep a record of their individual phone number. No-one from One-to-One responded to our inquiries as we went to press .

To bring up the security or IMEI number on a handset, owners have simply to star, hash, 06, hash and the digits appear on the screen