Northern Ireland

Used needles and drug paraphernalia found in public phone box in Belfast city centre

Drug paraphernalia inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell
Drug paraphernalia inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell Drug paraphernalia inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell

DRUG paraphernalia and used needles have been discovered in a public phone box in Belfast city centre.

Images taken by The Irish News expose the scale of the drug problem in the city.

The phone box is on North Street in the Cathedral Quarter - a short distance from many busy pubs and restaurants.

The box appears to have been used regularly and is littered with used needles, foil and other items commonly used to take heroin intravenously.

Intravenous drug users are using a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell
Intravenous drug users are using a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell Intravenous drug users are using a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell

Red phone boxes are owned by BT.

However, Belfast City Council's cleansing team will remove rubbish if it is contacted by a member of the public.

A spokeswoman for the council said it had sent a team to the phone box yesterday.

"Our street cleaning team will check this location and cleanse the site today," she said.

"Drug-related litter can also be reported by emailing sharps@belfastcity.gov.uk ."

BT has been contacted for comment.

Drug paraphernalia has been discovered inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell
Drug paraphernalia has been discovered inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell Drug paraphernalia has been discovered inside a red phone box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Picture by Hugh Russell

Heroin use has risen in Belfast over the last decade.

Experts have attributed the change to the introduction of highly organised drug dealing networks which have offered better availability of heroin.

Anecdotal evidence has suggested that intravenous drug use became more visible during the pandemic, when many workers left city centre offices to work from home.