A TARDIS-STYLE kiosk, which will provide residents with information and crime prevention advice, has landed in Preston city centre.
Funded by the Safer Lancashire Board and Lancashire County Council, the kiosk is situated on Fishergate, outside the Cotswold Outdoor store.
Supt James Lee, Operations Manager for Preston Police, said: -Together with our partners we are working to create a safer environment for local people and the kiosk will help us to achieve this.
-It allows access to a wide range of information about keeping safe and enjoying the facilities the city has to offer and it also lets users speak directly to the police if they need any assistance.
-As the kiosk is located in a busy area, it is hoped that many people will take advantage of using it and it will ultimately result in less people becoming victims of crime.
The kiosk, which is the first of its kind in England, has three built-in information terminals with touch-screens which provide access to maps, tourism information and crime prevention information. Users can be put straight through to the police’s control room by pressing a ‘help’ button on the kiosk.
It has large scrolling signs at the top of the kiosk so that important messages can be given directly to members of the public.
County Councillor David Smith, lead member for community services and chair of the Safer Lancashire Board, said: “It is fantastic that through our work with the Safer Lancashire Board we are able to provide this unique initiative to support community safety in Preston.
“The kiosk will provide a wealth of useful information to local people and visitors to Preston and, more importantly, offer reassurance to the public and a safer city for people to enjoy.”
Councillor Neil Cartwright, cabinet member for development and community safety, added: -Once again, Preston is leading the way and this kiosk is an effective way of providing information and immediate police assistance should anyone need it in Preston city centre.
-This type of kiosk has worked well in Glasgow, helping to reassure and make people feel even safer when out and about in the city centre. We are delighted that Lancashire Constabulary has chosen Preston for the first kiosk of its type in England.
The kiosk, which has been based on one successfully installed in Glasgow in 2005, was installed in the early hours of Tuesday 5 October.
It will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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