Sounding out: mosquito repels youngsters hanging around

Its screech is so repellent to surly teenage gangs it makes them flee in horror. But forget ASBOs, the latest invention designed to reign in the youth is the Sonic Teenager Deterrent.
Dubbed the mosquito (because it is "small and annoying") the device emits a piercing high frequency sound, like a demented insect, but is virtually inaudible to anyone over the age of 20.

With a flick of a switch, disaffected juveniles loitering outside shops recoil with fingers jammed in their ears – leaving older generations to enjoy the blissful sound of silence.
A growing number of stores in Scotland are joining more than 100 south of the border already using the device which sends out 80-decibel bursts of pulsing sounds at up to 16khz.
Colin Landsburgh, 44, installed the device outside his Spar shop in Carnoustie's high street about a month ago.

He is convinced the ear-splitting sound of the mosquito – which cannot penetrate inside the store – has forced 20 youths, who regularly hung around, to buzz off.

"I'm delighted with it," said Mr Landsburgh, who installed the unit following discussions with police. "While we don't have a huge anti-social element here, over the years at any one time up to 20 kids have been hanging about our shop because it is the only place open late. But the mosquito seems to have done wonders so far."

Hidden in the casing of halogen floodlights, the device exploits the fact that by the time a person reaches their mid to late 20s there is a large drop in the ability to hear very high frequency sounds. The invention – which retails at just over £600 – is the brainchild of Howard Stapleton, 39, of Merthyr Tydfil.

A number of local authorities across the UK, including Renfrewshire council, have tested the device.

Its screech is so repellent to surly teenage gangs it makes them flee in horror. But forget ASBOs, the latest invention designed to reign in the youth is the Sonic Teenager Deterrent.
Dubbed the mosquito (because it is "small and annoying") the device emits a piercing high frequency sound, like a demented insect, but is virtually inaudible to anyone over the age of 20.

With a flick of a switch, disaffected juveniles loitering outside shops recoil with fingers jammed in their ears – leaving older generations to enjoy the blissful sound of silence.
A growing number of stores in Scotland are joining more than 100 south of the border already using the device which sends out 80-decibel bursts of pulsing sounds at up to 16khz.
Colin Landsburgh, 44, installed the device outside his Spar shop in Carnoustie's high street about a month ago.

He is convinced the ear-splitting sound of the mosquito – which cannot penetrate inside the store – has forced 20 youths, who regularly hung around, to buzz off.

"I'm delighted with it," said Mr Landsburgh, who installed the unit following discussions with police. "While we don't have a huge anti-social element here, over the years at any one time up to 20 kids have been hanging about our shop because it is the only place open late. But the mosquito seems to have done wonders so far."

Hidden in the casing of halogen floodlights, the device exploits the fact that by the time a person reaches their mid to late 20s there is a large drop in the ability to hear very high frequency sounds. The invention – which retails at just over £600 – is the brainchild of Howard Stapleton, 39, of Merthyr Tydfil.

A number of local authorities across the UK, including Renfrewshire council, have tested the device.

Its screech is so repellent to surly teenage gangs it makes them flee in horror. But forget ASBOs, the latest invention designed to reign in the youth is the Sonic Teenager Deterrent.
Dubbed the mosquito (because it is "small and annoying") the device emits a piercing high frequency sound, like a demented insect, but is virtually inaudible to anyone over the age of 20.

With a flick of a switch, disaffected juveniles loitering outside shops recoil with fingers jammed in their ears – leaving older generations to enjoy the blissful sound of silence.
A growing number of stores in Scotland are joining more than 100 south of the border already using the device which sends out 80-decibel bursts of pulsing sounds at up to 16khz.
Colin Landsburgh, 44, installed the device outside his Spar shop in Carnoustie's high street about a month ago.

He is convinced the ear-splitting sound of the mosquito – which cannot penetrate inside the store – has forced 20 youths, who regularly hung around, to buzz off.

"I'm delighted with it," said Mr Landsburgh, who installed the unit following discussions with police. "While we don't have a huge anti-social element here, over the years at any one time up to 20 kids have been hanging about our shop because it is the only place open late. But the mosquito seems to have done wonders so far."

Hidden in the casing of halogen floodlights, the device exploits the fact that by the time a person reaches their mid to late 20s there is a large drop in the ability to hear very high frequency sounds. The invention – which retails at just over £600 – is the brainchild of Howard Stapleton, 39, of Merthyr Tydfil.

A number of local authorities across the UK, including Renfrewshire council, have tested the device.

Author Alison Chiesa
Publication The Herald
Date 17 February 2006
Link www.theherald.co.uk/news/56421.html