Remove pay phones to fight crime, Regina police chief says

Last Updated: Monday, June 4, 2007 | 10:34 AM CT

CBC News

SaskTel is being urged to remove pay phones from an inner city neighbourhood in Regina amid accusations that they're facilitating drug dealing and prostitution.

But other people argue that the phones, located near the General Hospital in the Core neighbourhood, provide a vital service for low-income people in the area who don't have their own phones at home.

SaskTel is being asked to remove outdoor pay phones in Regina's Core neighbourhood, around the corner of 14th Avenue and Broad Street.
(CBC)

According to SaskTel, there has been a formal request from the mayor's office to reduce the number of phones at one particular corner — at 14th Avenue and Broad Street.

There are currently six phones within sight at the corner, which has a 7-Eleven, a 24-hour coffee shop, a drug store and other businesses open at night.

Glen Trafford, who represents the Core Community Association, said he believes the most effective single change to improve the area would be to get rid of these phones.

Trafford said members of the community have raised concerns about drug dealers and people involved in the sex trade using the phones because the calls can't be traced.

"It has also been suggested to me that many of the people using the phones are also using cellphones," he said. "So it becomes a bit curious why they would use pagers and cellphones, and then use the pay phone."

Trafford added the association doesn't want to cut off people who don't have phones at home.

"But we believe six phones on a single corner only leads to trouble," he said.

Regina police Chief Cal Johnston calls the suggestion "crime prevention through environmental design" and thinks reducing the number of phones at the corner could reduce drug dealing and prostitution.

"You need to look at the whole environment, the people, the physical space and, in this case, services," he said.

"Those telephone booths enable people to communicate anonymously. Take them out and all of a sudden that activity will diminish."

Phones needed, others argue

However, not everyone in the area is in favour of the plan.

Leo Legasse, who doesn't have a cellphone, said the need for pay phones in the area is huge.

"Some people can't afford calling cards, so they call collect to their loved ones," Legasse said.

"I've seen a lot of people … phoning taxi services instead of going into the store and harassing the store clerks," he said. "It's a really good service and I wouldn't want to see it being abolished."

Other people in the area said they are less concerned about drug dealers than they would be about safety in case of emergencies if the phones are removed.

SaskTel said it would look into the request to remove phones. However, there is no timeline for when changes, if any, would take place.