Reid to approach Apple, Sony in crime fight

LONDON, Apr 29 (Reuters) Home Secretary John Reid is to approach Apple Inc and Sony Corp. to join a summit to help fight crime in Britain.

Reid wants manufacturers of mobile phones and MP3 players to concentrate as much on anti-crime functions as on other design features.

Gadgets like mobile phones and MP3 players are highly prized by criminals and crime figures released last week showed the number of street robberies rose 8 per cent to 26,600 during the final quarter of last year.

''We already have a close working relationship with mobile phone manufacturers,'' a Home Office spokesman said today. ''John Reid is likely to approach Apple and Sony in the coming weeks to join this summit.'' Apple, maker of the Mac and iPod, and Japanese electronics firm Sony have been chosen because of their innovative track record in technological design.

''During the coming week we'll be drawing up a list of other manufacturers who will be the best companies to include for the summit,'' the spokesman added.

''New technology, lifestyle changes, new commodities and new gadgets mean that the criminals continually move on,'' Reid told the BBC's Sunday AM programme.

''So when we defeat them on mobile phones, they move on to Sat-Navs and then on to iPods.'' Reuters JK DB2222