Tuesday, 23rd February 2021 at 11:03amEllo, ello, ello! Design competition prompts a rethink of iconic police call boxes

As part of the Secure City Programme, which seeks to utilise technology to increase safety in London’s Square Mile, designers and architects have been asked to reimagine the iconic blue police call box for the digital age.

With the aim of supporting interaction between police and public, the winning design will act as a hub for officers, incorporate life-saving medical equipment, be aesthetically sympathetic to local environments and coherent with the City’s sustainability goals.

It will be intriguing to see where this open brief leads. The competition’s hosts invite entrants to incorporate facilities for pollution monitoring, plant life, public art, signage and drinking water amongst other things.

Dr Who’s police call box defied the laws of physics, cheating both space and time. While such functionality is currently beyond our grasp, perhaps our innovative design community can incorporate some equally creative and surprising applications of tech.

Up to 6 shortlisted teams will be awarded £1,500 to develop a design proposal and the winning team will be revealed in late May 2021. The City of London Police will then start the process of raising the funding for the delivery of the selected design scheme.

To find out more about the competition or to enter your own design, follow this link.