Scrap Tunstall phone box 'used by drug dealers'
POLICE want to remove a BT phone box – because it is being used for drug-dealing.
The doorless kiosk in McKinley Street, Tunstall, has plagued neighbours for more than 10 years.
-
The phone box in McKinley Street, Tunstall
They have had to put up with drug dealing, vandalism and groups of teenagers hanging around the BT box.
Now Staffordshire Police have told residents they are looking at ways of removing the box.
Panasonic Store Camera•20x Optical Zoom LEICA DC Lens from 24mm...
View details
What Digital camera Gold award winning DMCTZ40
SAVE £20 off our store price ONLY with this voucher
Plus you can also claim a SD card or spare battery
Choice of colours, free parking behind store
Terms: Print this voucher and hand in at Panasonic Store Hanley to save £20 off our store price ONLY £269.90
Contact: 01782 342609
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
PC Adam Edwards said: “There have been problems with drug dealing in the phone box and it is close to some old people’s houses which has caused concern.
"I am now looking at whether we can get the box removed as I am not convinced that it is being used for its proper purpose."
Resident May Baskeyfield first complained to BT about the phone box 10 years ago and has also contacted Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley to take up her fight.
The 87-year-old retired pottery worker, who has lived in McKinley Street since 1976, said: "I have been having an issue with the box for years.
"Every other day it was being smashed up and there was glass left everywhere.
"I complained to the phone company and they sent a man to have a look at it.
"But he said it could stay because it wasn't detrimental to me or my house.
"That was 10 years ago and I am still waiting for action. I think once the phone box is taken out it will alleviate the problem because people can't hide in there and get up to no good.
"When I go out to them they always have a mobile phone in their hand so it’s not as if they are even using the booth for its proper purpose.
"It is scary to go out on my own to try to stop the problems but I still do it."
Megan Ryan, of Tunstall, said: "There has always been a lot of drug dealing going on at the phone box and I know that the police are keeping an eye on it. It has been a problem for many years and the residents have had a very hard time with it.
"The kiosk is usually being smashed up and it has been known to attract drug dealers.
"I think taking it out could be a solution and the residents would be delighted to see it go."
BT officials today said they had not received any recent complaints about the telephone kiosk.
But a spokesman added: "If the police were to contact us we would of course work with them and discuss the options available."
Comments
by SmellySock
Friday, November 09 2012, 10:31PM
“the door used to be karate kicked regular so bt never bothered putting a new door on,don't drug dealers / users have mobiles? minimum amount 60p i think to use a bt public phone..”
by Miltopia
Friday, November 09 2012, 5:32PM
“If BT want the box to stay (Why i'm not sure, older than a Sundial & less use) Then why not convert it to a bank/credit card box only? Most others are anyway. Then, if it is being used for dug dealing then persistant calls etc can be traced by what card was used.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Friday, November 09 2012, 3:27PM
“The payphone up by the crossing in Cobridge is used to prostitutes to work from, I was on a first-aid course at the St John's Ambulance building across the road from it, you couldn't miss their activities going on there.”
by BucknallMel
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:40PM
“I found out the hard way why we still need phone boxes this week; I'm disabled and I travel by taxi as I can't drive, and when I went out and forgot my mobile, I found out that the nearest payphone to me was two miles away in Hanley centre. A 999 only box wouldn't have helped, as I'm not the kind of twit who phones the police or ambulance to get a free ride home. I hadn't realised how dependant I was on the mobile till I didn't have it. Maybe we should just replace payphone kiosks with something like a payphone on a post that takes phonecards only.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:58PM
“With virtually everyone having a mobile phone these days , why don't BTconvert phone boxes to just 999 calls ????”
by Darrendoldrum
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:44PM
“"BT officials today said they had not received any recent complaints about the telephone kiosk"
Translation:
BT officials today have ignored recent complaints about the telephone kiosk.
:
:
:
But a spokesman added: "If the police were to contact us we would of course work with them and discuss the options available.""
Translation:
Only if we're forced to, will we pull our fingers out of our backsides and bother to help the local community to find a solution to its nuisance problem.”
by hardnose
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:22PM
“Who needs a public phone box,these days,just get rid of it.”
by johnboy2011
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:10PM
“Well said Nicky, the problem is that's too easy, the city is over run with drug dealers, they're like cockroaches.”
by lagu2
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:05PM
“put a camera in it , you already have a phone line there, if it works”
by Darren1810
Friday, November 09 2012, 12:03PM
“why not park an unmarked police car and just nick them?”