The Metropolitan Police are revisiting a closed investigation into the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone after admitting they recorded the wrong address when he reported the crime. Keir Starmer's former chief of staff told police his phone was stolen in central London on 20 October last year, but officers initially logged the incident as occurring in Belgrave Street, E1, rather than Belgrave Road, Pimlico.
The phone is thought to hold messages relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador, which could be lost if the device remains unfound. Earlier, the Met had said they were 'too busy' to investigate the theft, but after identifying the address error, they will now reassess whether there is available evidence, including CCTV.
McSweeney reported the theft to No 10, and the device was shut off remotely. He was given a new phone with the same number the next day. The theft occurred as McSweeney was responding to text messages; a man on an electric bike grabbed the phone and cycled away. McSweeney gave chase but could not keep up.
The development comes as thousands of documents from the Mandelson files are expected to be released after Easter, including informal communications. All senior ministers, civil servants, and special advisers have been asked to have their phone messages examined, but McSweeney's stolen work phone means his WhatsApp messages and texts to Mandelson cannot be accessed.
