0800 free4 Drugs

[vetran]

This is just recycling a BBC News story from a couple of weeks ago, though the Mail has found a phone box nearer their office to witter about, presumably to save expenses when sending a photographer down to take a pic of it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-45355056

Oh, and they've managed to pretend that the fact that it's a new model of phone makes a difference, as if the junkies of Tower Hamlets were going cold turkey rather than spending 60p to make a phone call until now

hmm maybe or they saw the new one with free calls & investigated think what scam is this going to spawn? They may have been aware of the other story.

Mrs Brummitt did not agree with BT's explanation.

"I don't think we tend to see an awful lot of tourists in the Bridgeway Centre to be quite honest," she said.

[NickFitz]

This is just recycling a BBC News story from a couple of weeks ago, though the Mail has found a phone box nearer their office to witter about, presumably to save expenses when sending a photographer down to take a pic of it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-45355056

Oh, and they've managed to pretend that the fact that it's a new model of phone makes a difference, as if the junkies of Tower Hamlets were going cold turkey rather than spending 60p to make a phone call until now

[vetran]

"Officials say that 72 out of 80 people who called in one day used them for drugs"

How would they have known this?

Monitoring calls?

looking at the receiving numbers? BT would have been looking at how they were used as they were paying for the calls.

These are in public so officers may have seen known users & observed them.

The calls are provided for free so it may be that with a correct disclaimer monitoring calls is acceptable.

All of the above.

I'm fine with people monitoring calls provided for free made in a public place so long as it is signposted.

[MonkeysUncle]

"Officials say that 72 out of 80 people who called in one day used them for drugs"

How would they have known this?

Monitoring calls?

[northernladuk]

However BT says the issue is isolated to a handful of units within Tower Hamlets

Very brave of BT that. The Police wouldn't dare admit that and woe betide any politician that even suggests this fact.

[vetran]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...rug-deals.html

New BT ‘smart’ phone boxes are being abused as council finds 90% of users are organising drug deals using free calls provided by the 'LinkUK' kiosks
LinkUK booths gives users access to services including Wi-Fi and free calls
Police intervened to stop a London Borough installing a further eight machines
Officials say that 72 out of 80 people who called in one day used them for drugs
However BT says the issue is isolated to a handful of units within Tower Hamlets

If I were the Police I would have kept quiet, got the right legal disclaimer on the kiosk then just sit back and reel in the dealers!