Anti-yob buzzer switched back on

AN ANTI-YOB device switched off due to fears it breached the human rights of young people is back in action.

The Mosquito device at the Spar store in Caerleon Road, Newport, made national headlines after we revealed Newport Community Safety Partnership stopped its use until health and safety and human rights issues were resolved.

But this week the device, which was initially trialled by the community safety partnership and was switched off by them, was reactivated by Spar as a private business.

Paul Howells, sales controller of Capper & Co Ltd, a wholesale company which supplies Spar stores in South Wales, said: "We have reactivated the Mosquito at the Spar on Caerleon Road.

"It is perfectly harmless to all and sundry and the facts speak for themselves. Police were having 64 call-outs a month, and since the Mosquito was installed that has dropped by 84 per cent."

He said the device has benefits for staff and customers alike, and dismissed the safety partnership's fears as "nonsense".

"It doesn't affect anybody who just walks in. You have to loiter there for a while for it to have an effect.

"The device is only activated for 15 minutes of every hour," he said.

This week we also revealed how another Spar store in Cardiff Road also bought a Mosquito - something the private business was perfectly entitled to do.

Mr Howells said Capper only have the devices at the two Spar stores in Gwent, but vowed to purchase more for stores if necessary.

"Safety of our staff and customers is our priority and we will use it wherever we have a problem."

A spokesman for Newport Community Safety Partnership said their views do not stop private companies purchasing the Mosquito, providing they comply with the law.

St Julians councillor Veronica Watkins said she would like to have seen a legal opinion on the issues raised before the device was reactivated. But, she added: "I can see both sides of the argument.

"It did have a positive effect in that it moved troublemakers on, but it also upset quite a lot of young people who were not behaving that way. They felt they were being tarred with the same brush."

Author -
Publication thisisgwent
Date 16 April 2006
Link www.thisisgwent.co.uk