This police telephone post at Piccadilly Circus is one of the few remaining in the capital out of a total of 685 that were in service during their peak in the 1960s. Introduced in the 1930s, they were used by both the Metropolitan Police to maintain contact with the police station (the light on top would flash if the station wanted the ‘bobby on the beat’ to phone them), and members of the public to summon help. They began to be phased out in the late 1960s when police radios took their place.
Whilst the cast iron structure looks quite slim, it actually housed several useful items and contraptions; the phone was stored in the top cubby, the middle cubby provided a writing surface and the bottom section would store a first aid kit, a stool and a fire extinguisher.
Those in the Westminster area of London are painted dark blue whilst those in the City are painted a sky blue, which is the official colour for the City of London.
Do look out for these unassuming pieces of street furniture when you are exploring London.