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| Calls to ban 'anti-teen' device | Calls to ban 'anti-teen' device |
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| Campaigners are calling for a ban on a device that emits a high-pitched sound to disperse groups of teenagers, saying it is not a fair way to treat them. | Campaigners are calling for a ban on a device that emits a high-pitched sound to disperse groups of teenagers, saying it is not a fair way to treat them. |
| There are estimated to be 3,500 of the devices, known as the Mosquito, in use in England, many at shopping centres. | There are estimated to be 3,500 of the devices, known as the Mosquito, in use in England, many at shopping centres. |
| 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. |
| England's children's commissioner backs a ban but convenience stores say the devices are useful as a "last resort". | England's children's commissioner backs a ban but convenience stores say the devices are useful as a "last resort". |
| 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. | 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 href="/1/hi/uk/7240653.stm">Mosquito device splits opinion class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7240306.stm">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 that values its children. | Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said the device had no place in a country that 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 | 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. |
| Liberty argues that the use of the Mosquito devices constitutes "a disproportionate interference with an individual's right to a private life". | Liberty argues that the use of the Mosquito devices constitutes "a disproportionate interference with an individual's right to a private life". |
| A spokeswoman added: "The device does not discriminate between bad apples and the vast majority of youngsters who are law abiding." | A spokeswoman added: "The device does not discriminate between bad apples and the vast majority of youngsters who are law abiding." |
| Work towards a ban on the use of Mosquito devices in Scotland has been under way since last year. | 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. | Scotland's commissioner for children and young people is pursuing the issue with the Scottish Government, the police, supermarkets and the manufacturers. |
| But Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the body would "fully support" the use of the device as a "last resort" in situations where staff and customers were intimidated by anti-social youths. | But Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the body would "fully support" the use of the device as a "last resort" in situations where staff and customers were intimidated by anti-social youths. |
| 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 |
| Mr Lowman, whose association represents 33,000 local shops, said: "Removing the ability to use tools like Mosquitoes will make life harder for retailers that face real problems. | Mr Lowman, whose association represents 33,000 local shops, said: "Removing the ability to use tools like Mosquitoes will make life harder for retailers that face real problems. |
| "It would also reinforce the retailer's view that whilst many in government are quick to blame the retailer for anti-social problems created by gangs of youths, they are unwilling to make those same young people accountable for their own actions." | "It would also reinforce the retailer's view that whilst many in government are quick to blame the retailer for anti-social problems created by gangs of youths, they are unwilling to make those same young people accountable for their own actions." |
| Mr Lowman said he had written to the children's commissioner and the children's minister, calling for a balanced approach that did not remove deterrents but ensured they were used appropriately. | Mr Lowman said he had written to the children's commissioner and the children's minister, calling for a balanced approach that did not remove deterrents but ensured they were used appropriately. |
| Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Local Government Association said councils used an array of techniques to disperse groups of youths. | Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Local Government Association said councils used an array of techniques to disperse groups of youths. |
| 'Small sector' | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Howard Stapleton, the man who invented the machine, rejected the criticisms put forward by the children's commissioner, describing the notion that the device was discriminatory as "ridiculous". | |
| He said: "We're talking about a small sector of the population, teenagers, drunk, behaving badly, this device is to be used against. | |
| "What about the rest of us out there? Aren't we all sick and tired of what's going on on our streets at the moment?" |