PHONE boxes which “facilitate drug dealing” are planned for the city.
British Telecom (BT) has plans to install 26 new “smart” phone boxes across Brighton and Hove.
The touchscreen InLink kiosks are funded by advertising, provide free calls, ultra-fast wi-fi and phone-charging.
But the company has faced criticism after Metropolitan Police claimed the free call feature on the boxes was being used by addicts to buy drugs.
Calls from 18 boxes in Tower Hamlets in London were temporarily stopped after police claimed 20,000 calls were made to known drug dealers in four months.
It is rumoured one drug gang made £1.28 million worth of drug sales from one box in Whitechapel.
There are 14 phone boxes in Brighton that are planned to be replaced with the new hub.
These are:
Aldi, London Road
Queensbury House, Queen’s Road
Foodilic in North Street
Pacific House in Dyke Road
St George’s Place
Primark in Western Road
Sprinkles Gelato in West Street
The junction of North Road and Gloucester Place
The World’s End pub in London Road
University of Brighton, Grand Parade
Starbucks in Western Road, Hove
NatWest in London Road
New Look in Western Road
Aldi, London Road,
Brighton Station
The new kiosks are intended to replace 1,000 payphones across the UK.
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