Buzz off

Dee · February 12, 2008

What are the forum's opinions concerning this high-pitch sound device used to disperse groups of young people?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7240180.stm

Call to scrap 'anti-teen' device

Teenagers drinking in the street

The device has been used to combat anti-social behaviour

'Buzz' simulated

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.

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.

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 Chakrabarti

Liberty

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.

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.

"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.

Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said the device had no place in a country which values its children.

Mosquito device on a wall

Device emits a tone between 17.5KHz and 18.5KHz inaudible to people over about 25 years

Tone can be heard from a distance of 15-20m

Exposure to sound becomes annoying after 5-10 minutes

Sound 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.

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, Southampton

Send 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."

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.

"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."

£440,000 · February 12, 2008

This post is not viewable to guests.

You can sign in to your account at the login page here