Want to get a flash new phone? Then think twice before falsely reporting your old one as stolen to the police.

Police have claimed they are winning the war on fraudsters who make bogus insurance claims for "stolen" mobile phones.

Reports of stolen phones have dropped by a third in Basildon since officers forced individuals to come into the station and sign a declaration.

They must also explain the circumstances behind the robbery and are warned they could be investigated for fraud if they are lying.

The new system replaces the outdated process of police giving out a crime number over the phone for people to provide to their insurance company.

Officers were forced to introduce the tough approach after being swamped by hundreds of claims from people inventing crimes to get new phones from their networks.

Basildon police spokeswoman Angell Crosland said: "This move allows genuine victims of crime to receive our full attention."

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