(posted 7849 days ago)Step back in timelord: the Tardis returns?
Oct 29 2002By Robert Dex
South London Press
OLD fashioned police boxes could soon be back on the streets of south London.The boxes, complete with flashing blue lights, were made famous by the Tardis in the BBC TV show about timelord Dr Who.
They were a fixture on the streets of London for more than 30 years before they were phased out in the late 1960s.
But they could be making a comeback after Toby Harris, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, called for their return.
Lord Harris said bringing back the boxes would help cut down the number of people calling 999 and clogging up the emergency lines.
The old boxes had a phone so coppers on the beat could stay in touch with their station in the days before walkie-talkies. They were also used by people to report less serious crimes and problems.
Lord Harris said: "I want to see a return to the days when people could call the police quickly and easily by picking up the phone in a public location.
"We could bring the old style police boxes up to date by using the latest technology, such as touch screens, at locations that are familiar and easy to access, like bus stops."
Lord Harris also said he would be asking the Met to conduct a feasibility study into the idea.
The call to bring the boxes back sparked a few memories for at least one retired south London copper.
Harry Cole, who joined the force in Walworth in 1952, said the boxes were popular with officers trying to keep dry on rainy days.
Recalling his first visit to a police box as a new recruit, Harry said: "We had a box at Oval which we shared with the station at Kennington.
"I was on the beat for the first time and thought I'd go along to it and have a sit down because my legs were aching as I wasn't used to the walking.
"When I got to the box, there were already three coppers in there and they told me to go away.
"There was smoke coming out through the windows because they had their pipes going."