EE BACKS SHORT FILM, ‘A GIRL CALLED ALICE’, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE UK’S GROWING MOBILE PHONE THEFT CRISIS
EE has announced its support for independent production company, Fact Not Fiction Films, to support ‘A Girl Called Alice’, a new 15-minute short drama that brings the realities of organised phone theft to life on screen
Over 100,000 phones were stolen in London alone in 2024, and approximately 75% of stolen devices moved overseas to be resold in countries where UK network blacklisting does not apply
EE works closely with law enforcement, including the Metropolitan Police Service, to combat the issue, with customers able to visit ee.co.uk/mobile-safety to find practical guidance on keeping their device safe and secure
London, 17 June 2026 – EE today announced its support for ‘A Girl Called Alice’, a new short film produced by award-winning independent production company Fact Not Fiction Films. The partnership reflects EE’s ongoing commitment to helping customers stay safe and highlights the growing urgency of mobile phone theft, an issue that resulted in more than 100,000 handsets stolen in London alone last year.
Set against the streets of contemporary London, the 15-minute crime drama follows Alice, a young woman with a reputation as one of the city’s most skilled phone thieves. When she is challenged by a notorious gang leader to prove her abilities, a police operation quietly begins to close in, exposing the scale and structure of the criminal networks behind everyday handset theft.
The scale of the problem extends far beyond individual loss. According to analysis from the Metropolitan Police, approximately 75% of stolen phones are quickly moved overseas and resold in countries where UK network blacklisting does not apply, fuelling a global criminal market. The Metropolitan Police and the Mayor of London have called on device manufacturers to “design out” phone theft, with the Met commissioner calling for government legislation if tech firms don’t take urgent steps to prevent stolen phones from being resold and reused.
EE, the UK’s best network, is an official partner of the film and has contributed to its production. The EE brand features in the closing credits alongside a direct link to ee.co.uk/mobile-safety, where customers can access practical guidance on protecting their handset. EE already works closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to tackle organised crime related to mobile theft, and when a customer reports a device as lost or stolen, EE immediately blocks the SIM across all UK networks. If reported within 24 hours, EE also caps any unauthorised call, data or text charges, ensuring victims are not left with unexpected bills.
Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Product, Mobile, EE, said: “Mobile theft is both upsetting and disruptive, which is why EE is proud to support this short film. By backing this project, we hope to raise awareness about the impact of these crimes and highlight the importance of staying vigilant. EE works closely with law enforcement, including the Metropolitan Police Service, to help combat organised crime related to mobile theft, while also supporting customers to keep their phone safe with practical advice on ee.co.uk/mobile-safety.”
EE is also a member of industry body Mobile UK, which has called for a system-wide approach, including technical changes by device manufacturers, to render stolen devices unusable anywhere in the world. Additionally, EE customers can visit ee.co.uk/mobile-safety for practical guidance on activating phone locks, registering their device, reporting theft promptly, and understanding what protections are already in place. Customers can take steps to protect their devices from theft with EE’s advice on protecting your mobile and data, which includes:
Staying alert when using your handset in public - shielding the screen when unlocking your device, watching out for distractions and avoiding carrying your device in open bags or easy-to-reach pockets
Using your phone’s built-in security features - setting a strong PIN, password or biometric lock and enabling Find My Device so you can track, lock or wipe your device if it’s lost or stolen
Back up your data regularly – using iCloud or your Google account to back up your phone automatically so your information and data is backed up
Keep your apps and info secure – use strong, unique password for important apps like banking or digital wallets and turn on biometric login where available. Avoid using autofill or keychain features for sensitive apps and enable multi-factor authentication that doesn’t rely on your phone or email.
Register your phone – add your device to immobilise, the UK’s free property register, to help police return your device if it’s lost or stolen
EE also recommends keeping a note of your device’s make, model and IMEI number, which can be retrieved from your settings or by dialling *#06# from the keypad.
This comes in addition to existing services that EE offers to protect its customers from crime, such as EE Scam Guard - a network-level protection tool that automatically identifies and blocks suspected scam calls before they reach a customer's handset, with no action required on their part. EE also provides spam text filtering at the network level, and dedicated security controls through the My EE app, allowing customers to manage their account safety and report suspicious activity quickly and easily.
‘A Girl Called Alice’ is set to have its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival, Europe’s biggest independent film festival, in Leicester Square on 20 June 2026. It will then be entered into film festivals across the UK before being made available free of charge to cinema chains. The trailer is available to watch here: agirlcalledalice.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors
EE customer mobile safety advice: ee.co.uk/mobile-safety
About the film: ‘A Girl Called Alice’ (2026) is a 15-minute crime drama produced by Fact Not Fiction Films and directed by Tristan Loraine. Starring Tegan Muggeridge, Antonio Aakeel (Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, Tomb Raider, BAFTA-winning Three Girls) and Edwin De La Renta (Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, The Informer). World premiere: Raindance Film Festival, Leicester Square, London, 20 June 2026. Trailer: vimeo.com/1171395344.
About Fact Not Fiction Films: Award-winning UK independent production company founded in 2006. The company produces high-quality short films, documentaries and features, with five productions having been Academy Award contenders and broadcasts on platforms including National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Previous public information films have tackled mental health, identity theft, bullying and breast cancer. For more information visit factnotfictionfilms.com.
About EE
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EE’s 4G, 5G and 5GSA speeds cover more than 90% of the UK, while EE’s super reliable broadband is available at more than 99% of UK premises, with guaranteed speeds to keep people streaming, gaming, watching TV and connecting to the things that matter most.
EE’s mobile network continues to receive extensive recognition including UK's best overall network by RootMetrics® every year since 2014, as well as being named Best Network for Consumers at the Mobile Industry Awards for the last four years since 2022.
EE is committed to offering first class service in the industry and has nearly 400 stores across the UK. In 2023, EE launched its new experiential retail strategy opening its flagship EE Studio and Experience stores nationwide. The innovative approach to retail in the telco industry has seen EE receive multiple awards of recognition including Retailer of the Year at the Mobile Industry Awards in 2024 and 2025, and Best New Store for the EE Studio at the Retail Week Awards in 2024.
EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised for putting people and culture at the heart of the company at the Cnect Wales Awards in 2025.
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