22 Dec 2009

Coincode stops vandalism

The community park in Malmö – Folkets park – had problems with vandalism of some of their public toilets. With the installation of ASSA Coincode the problems have stopped, and the toilets are reopened again.

A community park is always open - that´s the case also for Malmö Folkets Park. Free entrance 24-7, all year round.

But openness has downsides sometimes. The toilets in a more secluded part of the park have been subjected to graffiti, vandalism and the traces of drug abuse.

The toilets were often close for costly reparations. Something had to be done, but surveillance was not an option and coin boxes are often exposed to damage.

"I read about Coincode, and immediately saw the possibilities", says Sverker Haraldsson, manager of the park.

On six of the parks toilets Coincode – a code terminal for payment via SMS – were installed. The visitor sends a text message to a number and receives a code in return. The code opens the toilet door at a cost of two Swedish crowns.

In today´s society most of us bring our cell phones where we go – but less often coins. And if one is without mobile phone, visiting from abroad or simply finds the cost to high, there are also fifteen free toilets by the main entrance to the park.