Published on | General
The police forces of the West Midlands have had a number of ‘mascots’ over the year; often encouraging children to be safe and offer them advice. Roger, the safety car, is held in high esteem here at the museum after many years teaching school children across the region about road safety.
But do you remember the nifty character who taught children to be safe when using payphones? Back in the 1980’s PC Payphone visited youngsters at school and the Lifestyle ’87 exhibition to help educate children on the dangers of talking to strangers and warn them against vandalising telephone kiosks!
This year, having seen our #WeAre50 stories, Kurt Stokes, WMP Transport Coordinator, got in touch with us to share the tale of PC Payphone and recalled the day he was strong-armed into donning the costume!
“If I said it as hot I would be underselling it… We were asked to do it due to us being part of the West Midlands Police Junior Crime Prevention Panel… If I remember right it was aimed mainly at children about how to use a payphone to call for help, what details to give, and any other information.”
Kurt Stokes
Even Margaret Thatcher met PC Payphone during her first election visit to the West Midlands!
The colourful costume included a detachable phone and police helmet – when the imitation phone buttons on the chest are pressed, pre-recorded messages would play!
The scheme was a collaboration process between British Telecom services, West Midlands Police, and BT.