SOME disturbing figures have emerged from the Mayor of London’s office in relation to the current craze for the phone-app game Pokemon Go.

In response to a question from Conservative London Assembly members, the Mayor revealed that since the app was released less than five months ago the Met Police has recorded 153 crimes relating to Pokemon or Pokemon Go.

The free game creates a sort of digital world around real locations using local time and GPS, so that computer-generated creatures “interact” with players in real time.

It has proved massively popular, but has led to complaints about players barging into inappropriate places and invading private property to chase the virtual creatures.

The figures released for London do not specify how the offences related to the game, but in each case “Pokemon” was recorded as a key term on the crime log. They included 38 assaults, ten sexual offences, 43 robberies and 51 cases of burglary, theft or handling stolen goods.

Given that we can expect more augmented-reality apps to be launched in the future, industry, users, parents and teachers need to start thinking about how best to educate players of these games to enjoy them safely without upsetting others.

Dr Syed Kamall

Conservative MEP for London