Description: The largest telephone box network was developed by the General Post Office, which introduced the famous red telephone box to the streets of Britain. Other organisations had their own networks. The Police Service saw how the telephone box could play its part in fighting crime and disorder and Britain's pioneering motoring organisations, the rival Royal Automobile Club and Automobile Assocation both recognised the value of the telephone to their customers. Website design by Richard Coltman 2024
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The General Post Office introduced the famous red telephone box to the streets of Britain. At its height the GPO network totalled 92,000 public call boxes. Today, owned by British Telecom, the network totals 46,000 call boxes, of which 8,000 are red telephone boxes.
The Police Service saw how the telephone box could play its part in fighting crime and disorder, with 1000 examples installed. In 1963 the Mackenzie Trench Police Box first appeared as the TARDIS in the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who.
Britain's pioneering motoring organisations, the rival Royal Automobile Club and Automobile Assocation, recognised the value of the telephone to its customers. A total of 1,300 sentry boxes allowed patrolmen to keep in touch and members to summon assistance.