Traveling through time could be a nifty way to stomp out crime, but unfortunately the blue police boxes of the real world don't have that option.

Still, that isn't stopping Scottish police from returning to the "Doctor Who" iconic boxes, which fell ou of style not long after the debut of the the series in the early 1960s.

Edinburgh police are reviving the blue boxes - some of which have not been used in more than 40 years - and will have a police officer stationed in the enclosed location during peak times. In addition to providing a place for members of the public to seek assistance, these boxes will be able to deal with crime reports and also lost property.

And for police officers who are busy on the beat, the boxes will also act as a rest spot for a tea break or a place to do some quick paper work.

The boxes will all undergo a significant renovation with the first already refurbished in Grassmarket, Edinburgh as part of a city council project for area development. Five other boxes have been singled out for development.

"We are looking at five of the boxes we want to spruce up," sector inspector for the West End, Gavin Phillip, told the Scotman. "In addition to use by police officers, they could also be used by partners such as community safety wardens. Over the summer, when the visitor numbers increase, they could be a point of contact for the public. They could be manned at busy times of day. It's a key part of visibility and providing reassurance."

In addition to the police strategists, there are a number of local residents and business owners who also are keen on seeing the timeless boxes brought back into operation.

"I think it's a brilliant idea," community councilor Bill Cowan said. "It's got great public support. It makes the police more visible, and there's also an element of nostalgia. It's like seeing a policeman on a bicycle."

If the boxes prove a success in the Scottish capital, does that mean more boxes will be re-activated? Possibly, but in the city of Glasgow the police may find some problems with the proposal as several of the existing police boxes have become quick-stop coffee shops which tend to draw a number of tourists who are fans of the BBC series.

Others however have remained dormant due to their location; the Glassford Street, Glasgow box is located on an island in the middle of the road and so any kind of coffee-shop venue would simply not be feasible and remains vacant and perfectly situated for revival.