Delight as noise device drives the yobs away
SHOP workers in Chester are celebrating the success of a device which is helping to cut youth crime.
The Spar at The Parade, Blacon, installed a Mosquito box six weeks ago which produces a high-pitched buzzing that only teenagers can hear.
It was the desperate action of a workforce blighted by yobs.
The £622 device is designed to irritate teenagers so much they leave the area without bothering adult shoppers whose cannot hear the blasts.
Spar manager Lyn Cartwright said: “It’s been brilliant. We enjoy coming to work now.
“I don’t know whether it’s the Mosquito or the police presence but with both of them together the problems have gone away.
“It’s a lot better to shop here now.”
Mrs Cartwright praised the Community Action Team in Blacon. “They pop in a couple of times a week to make sure everything is okay and then listen to what is going on,” she said.
CAT leader, Sgt Alastair Hinze, said: “We don’t know how often they’re using the Mosquito but since March we’ve hit hot spots for anti-social behaviour in the area.
“We’ve dealt with it by handing out acceptable behaviour contracts or advice through to ASBOs to educate people about what’s acceptable and what isn’t.”
The teams have also gathered information about the people they meet or pick up and have fed it back to anti-social co-ordinator Sam Lovett, based in Blacon Police Station. At the station anti-social behaviour specialists and the Youth Offender Teams have worked together to find ways of dealing with persistent troublemakers.
Sgt Hinze said: “We’ve seen a 30 per cent reduction in crime in both Blacon Lodge and Blacon Hall. We’re pleased but not complacent and know what needs to be done to improve things further.”
Blacon Lodge councillor Marie Nelson said: “I think the Mosquito has improved things so I would say so far, so good. A lot of positive things are happening in Blacon Lodge as well at the moment and we’ve got a great opportunity here.
“People are working together and things are getting better.”
Blacon Hall Cllr John Price, deputy city council leader, said: “The Mosquito has clearly had a positive contribution. When it says buzz off, it means it.”
On the more general sense of optimism in the area, he said: “You can almost feel it and various activities on The Parade have had an impact. We’re not there yet but it’s quite an improvement.”
