‘Obscene cards’ in South Kensington’s phone boxes has pressured the council to adapt a creative approach

Red phone box with frosted windows outside Gloucester Road Station (Emily Quiles)

Just across Gloucester Road Station, the window panels of two red phone boxes have been frosted up and read, “Say NO to obscene cards in Kensington and Chelsea”. Look closer and you can decipher a mosaic of cards mounted inside the walls of the phone box, advertising prostitution services.

“Gorgeous cowgirl, come and ride with me” and “Sexy babe” combined with images of naked women adorn the insides of Kensington’s phone boxes. BT estimates more than 13m call cards are removed every year. However, the Kensington and Chelsea Council are concerned of the impressions it leaves children and tourists.

“I wouldn’t want my children to see those images. Masking the problem makes sense,” said Darash Patel, a local resident to Kensington.

The SW7 area has been the most affected by card postings, according to the council. Twenty red telephone boxes within the area have been frosted. But the card posters continue to place the cards within the walls of tourist attractions.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have tackled the problem in the past by placing new bins beside the affected telephone boxes and regular monitoring by Streetline, the community’s rubbish collecting services. The number of cards posted in the borough’s telephone boxes has decreased dramatically this past year.

“Our approach is founded upon collaboration with the police, BT, local agencies working to support sex workers and residents,” said Bernie Bernard, Kensington and Chelsea’s council of community safety.

However, Kensington residents also showed concern for the women in the prostitution business. “I’m worried about the girls. Is it their choice or are they being trafficked?” said Jane Dee. This refocuses the problem onto the girls and not the viewing of the images.

“These girls have more direct pressure and that can be dangerous,” said James Moretto.

Local residents have also shown concern that while the frosted windows cover the adverts they don’t stop the problem. “It might push the advertisers out of the phone boxes and onto walls or lamppost,” said Moretto. However, the council hopes that this strategy will discourage those who post sexually explicit cards.

Dee feels that the adverts are just a part of London, “I’ve lived here for 30 years now and I’ve never seen the problem solved. It’s just a part of life.” Other residents haven’t taken notice to the adverts, suggesting how much of a taboo subject the council is dealing with.

Inside of the phone box (Emily Quiles)

Only 10% of phone boxes in London are used regularly. With the sharp decrease in use, boroughs have been finding new uses for the boxes. BT has announced that if approved by their council, people can refurbish phone boxes for commercial use. This meaning, the future of phone boxes could be coffee stalls, charging stations, and ice cream shops. However, BT recognizes the social need for payphone locations, for example, suicide hotspots, road accidents and recently, defibrillators.

Red phone boxes are an iconic symbol of London, but the Kensington and Chelsea Council does not believe it will affect tourism.“There are millions of visitors to the borough every year and this shouldn’t be affected,” said Bernard.

The council encourages residents to report any cards they see on the streets, via the RBKC Local app or by phoning the Council 020 7361 3001 or the police on 101, so they can be cleared as soon as possible.