PAY PHONES A DRUG TOOL, MERCHANTS SAY

Victoria council has answered a call for help from downtown businesses
upset with activity at a row of pay phones on Douglas Street.

Councillors heard that the three phones, located in the 1300-block of
Douglas between Yates and Johnson streets, are unusually close together.
They acknowledged that pay phones can sometimes create problems related to
drugs and other crimes.

With drug-related issues, the concerns come when a dealer is paged and then
uses a pay phone to respond, said Coun. Dean Fortin.

"A small percentage of people have a huge affect on everyone else."

Municipal staff spokesman Clive Timms said police do not keep specific
records of incidents at individual pay phones.

At present, the downtown area has 19 pay phones spread out in 12 locations.
Council agreed with a staff recommendation to look at moving one or two of
the problem phones to other sites.