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Call to scrap 'anti-teen' device | Call to scrap 'anti-teen' device |
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A high-pitched device used to disperse teenagers is being challenged by campaigners, who say it is not a fair way to treat young people. | A high-pitched device used to disperse teenagers is being challenged by campaigners, who say it is not a fair way to treat young people. |
There are estimated to be 3,500 of the devices, known as the Mosquito, in use across the country. | |
Their sound causes discomfort to young ears - but their frequency is above the normal hearing range of people over 25. | Their sound causes discomfort to young ears - but their frequency is above the normal hearing range of people over 25. |
The Children's Commissioner for England says they should be scrapped as they infringe the rights of young people. | The Children's Commissioner for England says they should be scrapped as they infringe the rights of young people. |
The devices, which exploit the fact that a person's ability to hear high frequencies generally declines once they reach their 20s, have proved popular with councils and police who aim to tackle anti-social behaviour by using them to disperse groups of youths. | The devices, which exploit the fact that a person's ability to hear high frequencies generally declines once they reach their 20s, have proved popular with councils and police who aim to tackle anti-social behaviour by using them to disperse groups of youths. |
But a new campaign called "Buzz off", led by the Children's Commissioner for England and backed by groups including civil liberties group Liberty, is calling for them to be scrapped. | |
What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Shami ChakrabartiLiberty Firm defends teen deterrent | |
The organisations want to highlight what they call the "increasingly negative" way society views and deals with children and young people. | The organisations want to highlight what they call the "increasingly negative" way society views and deals with children and young people. |
Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England, said he had spoken to many young people who had been "deeply affected" by the deterrents. | Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England, said he had spoken to many young people who had been "deeply affected" by the deterrents. |
He said: "These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving. | He said: "These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving. |
"The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old." | "The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old." |
He also argued that such an approach was "not addressing the root cause" of anti-social behaviour. | He also argued that such an approach was "not addressing the root cause" of anti-social behaviour. |
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said the device had no place in a country which values its children. | Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said the device had no place in a country which values its children. |
Device emits a tone between 17.5KHz and 18.5KHz inaudible to people over about 25 yearsTone can be heard from a distance of 15-20mExposure to sound becomes annoying after 5-10 minutesSound automatically shuts off after 20 minutes | |
"What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender, rather than to our kids," she said. | "What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender, rather than to our kids," she said. |
Article Eight of the Human Rights Act 1998 states: "Everyone has the right to a respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." | |
It says: "There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health of morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others." | |
A Liberty spokeswoman said: "The use of the Mosquito devices constitutes a disproportionate interference with an individual's right to a private life." | |
"The device does not discriminate between bad apples and the vast majority of youngsters who are law abiding." | |
HAVE YOUR SAY Screaming kids frequently cause 'discomfort' to my ears. If it gets rid of the little brats, I am all for it Bill, SouthamptonSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Screaming kids frequently cause 'discomfort' to my ears. If it gets rid of the little brats, I am all for it Bill, SouthamptonSend us your comments |
Work towards a ban on the use of Mosquito devices in Scotland has been under way since last year. | |
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People is pursuing the issue with the Scottish Government, the police, supermarkets and the manufacturers. | |
However, Roger Hutchings, who manages a shopping centre that uses the device, said he felt the debate was about the use of the equipment, not the Mosquito itself. | |
Mr Hutchings, who manages the Queensgate Shopping Centre, in Peterborough, said: "It's something we don't use as a matter of habit and we certainly don't use it consistently and regularly." | Mr Hutchings, who manages the Queensgate Shopping Centre, in Peterborough, said: "It's something we don't use as a matter of habit and we certainly don't use it consistently and regularly." |
Combating lawlessness | |
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Local Government Association said councils used an array of techniques to disperse groups of youths. | |
He said: "It is imperative that local people work with their local council to ensure the most appropriate technique for ensuing that not only anti-social behaviour is dispersed but also that children have somewhere to go to release their energy in a safe place which does not disturb or annoy residents." | |
The Mosquito's inventor, Howard Stapleton, previously told the BBC the device was proven to be effective. | |
He said: "As a father I realise the majority of young people are fun-loving and law abiding. | He said: "As a father I realise the majority of young people are fun-loving and law abiding. |
"I find it sad that a system is needed to combat lawlessness, but its proven effectiveness shows how much it is needed to improve our communities." | "I find it sad that a system is needed to combat lawlessness, but its proven effectiveness shows how much it is needed to improve our communities." |