Otara’s troublesome phones
Two phone boxes used as cover during numerous drug deals at Otara Town Centre could be disconnected.
Local politicians and leaders want them removed as a deterrent to would-be dealers. The removal is awaiting official confirmation.
Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board member Mary Gush says the phone boxes are more of a nuisance than a service to the community.
‘‘They were originally put in to call taxis, because taxis wouldn’t wait on the stand. But it’s not used for that anymore,’’ she says.
‘‘Now there are just a lot of people hanging around there, blocking the footpath.’’
Gush is backed up by town centre manager Rana Judge. ’’Spark tells us only two to six calls are made there a day - there’s been a problem with fake 111 calls there too,’’ he says.
Judge says the boxes provide cover for the drug deals, both in sight and from other security measures.
There are even nooks and crannies to stash drugs. One of the two phones still produces a dial tone. Both have been heavily vandalised.
Otara Neighbourhood Policing Team’s leader Sergeant Lyon Dunn says police have made numerous arrests over the dealing of cannabis.
In two cases, one male was arrested after being caught dealing in broad daylight. Another was pursued and arrested at night.
It’s all part of an ongoing effort to stop offending in the town centre, Dunn says.
‘‘We have to keep our hand on it, if you stop and let it go, the problem spikes all the way up,’’ he says.
Part of that is working alongside ‘‘eyes and ears’’ like the business association and community wardens.
As a result, repeat offenders have been caught. Most offenders are from the Otara area.
Spark spokesman Richard Llewellyn initially said it wanted to split the removal costs.
But what group would pay the other half was initially unclear. But now, Llewellyn says the company will pay.
Spark is awaiting written confirmation from the OtaraPapatoetoe Local Board or other local authority confirming the community wants it removed.
That way it’s clear in future as to why the pay phones were removed.