Police and fire chiefs want people buying pre-pay mobiles to show ID.

 

 

hey say it would help them cut crime and trace crucial information.

"We'd like to see identification given at the time of purchase," Auckland drug squad acting senior sergeant Scott Steedman says.

"I think they give out these things a little too freely.

"We come across people who have 15 to 20 phones and you ask yourself, why do they need so many?" New Zealand customers only have to show ID, such as a driving licence, when signing up for a mobile plan.

In Australia, a 1997 law requires phone companies to obtain ID for pre-pay phones at the time of purchase.

An Australian government agency regulating broadcasting, internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications says the ID is to "support law enforcement and national security".

Auckland fire region assistant commander Cliff Mears says a law change would help firefighters too.

"Often we need to go back to the caller for more information and that information may be important.

"If we don't know who that caller is, or if they give false information, it makes it difficult."

Auckland police seized eight cannabis tinnies and a mobile phone containing texts arranging deals after pulling over a car on Anzac Day.

"It was like text-a-tinnie basically," constable Nigel Turnbull says.

"It's normal business to use pre-pay because they're not traceable.

"It's a way of them staying incognito and out of the loop."

Telecom spokeswoman Sarah Berry says the firm is monitoring the issue and happy to discuss it with authorities.

But she says it would be hard to make changes because there are so many customers already with pre-pay phones and people often sell them online.

"It's a balancing act between the fact pre-pay mobiles are very popular and the problem of a small number of customers misusing the system."

Vodafone sales operations general manager Sean Hannan says the firm wouldn't oppose legislation "but it's a government decision".

Auckland city police district western area commander inspector Jim Wilson says mass texting is also used by boy racers and youth gangs.

Texting is a method for people to communicate with each other and that includes criminal acts."

 

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