HUNG UP

Pulling the Plug on a Bank of Six Payphones in One Location Might Help
Reduce Crime.

New technology is often great, but sometimes doing things "the old
way" still works better -- particularly if you're a criminal.

For example, while it might be convenient for a drug dealer to use a
cellphone to make a deal, that call can be traced.

Much better for a crook craving anonymity to use the old-fashioned
neighbourhood payphone from which calls can't be traced.

The payphone can also be used as a "drop-off" point that criminals can
safely observe from a distance.

This isn't idle speculation, but a fact of life, according to some
residents who live near six payphones at the corner of Broad Street
and 14th Avenue.

It's a busy spot, with a coffee shop, convenience store, drug store
and other businesses close by.

There's also a constant flow of traffic in and out of the nearby
Regina General Hospital.

Area residents have told the Core Community Association that they
suspect the phones are being used as a kind of criminal call centre by
drug dealers and prostitutes.

Money and "packages" have been observed changing hands
there.

Because of the reports of criminal activity, the association and
Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco have asked SaskTel to review the need for six
payphones at the intersection or whether they would be better
dispersed to other locations in the area.

It's a classic example of addressing crime by making relatively minor
"environmental" changes to a neighbourhood, techniques that include
improved lighting, reducing the size of hedges and trees that offer
cover for criminal activity and cleaning up graffiti and garbage to
improve the sense of pride in a neighbourhood.

The Core neighbourhood is currently being evaluated for such
improvements by a partnership that includes the community association,
Regina Police Service and the City of Regina.

The phone issue might sound trivial, but by raising it residents have
already sent a message to criminals: "You are being watched."

Often, that's all that is required to clean up the neighbourhood.