Three BT phone kiosks have been temporarily disabled so they can no longer be used to make calls to mobile phones after reports they were involved in drug deals.

The council has allowed around a dozen BT InLinkUK phone boxes to be installed. But residents will no longer be able to make calls to mobiles from the boxes in Blackstock Road, Fonthill Road and Seven Sisters Road.

Islington Council’s safety chief, Andy Hull, said in January that a few of the kiosks “appear to be being used to arrange nearby drug deals”.

The three kiosks will still display advertising on panels and offer free wi-fi. They can be used to make calls to landlines and emergency services.

Cllr Hull said this week: “I’m glad to see InLinkUK has recognised the problem and is taking responsibility for it.”

InLinkUK general manager Matt Bird said: “We will monitor the impact of this change.”

• Keywords
  DRUG ABUSE, TELEPHONE BOXES
• Geographical keyword
  BLACKSTOCK ROAD, FONTHILL ROAD, SEVEN SISTERS ROAD
• Persons keyword
  Andy Hull, British Telecom (BT)