Campaign to ban the ‘teen tormentor’ from Scotland

A campaign to ban "ultrasonic weapons" used to disperse children from street corners was launched yesterday, backed by Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Kathleen Marshall joined civil liberties campaigners in calling for a ban on the Mosquito - a gadget which annoys young people by emitting a high-pitched sound. The so-called "teen tormentor" exploits young people's ability to hear very high frequencies, a power which declines once they reach their 20s.

The Children's Commissioner is backing the "Buzz Off" campaign, launched yesterday by her counterpart in England, Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green.

Campaigners say an estimated 3500 devices are in use in England to disperse children and young people in areas such as parks, shopping centres and around shops.

In Scotland, they are known to have been used in parts of Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Fife. Young people are being asked to contact the campaign and report where Mosquitos are in use.

Ms Marshall said: "The teen tormentor' or teen repellent' is an ultrasonic weapon used against our children and young people indiscriminately. Its use would not be tolerated for any other section of our society. Young people have a right to assemble and socialise without being treated as criminals. There needs to be an outright ban on this device which affects not only teenagers, but also young children, babies and young people with disabilities."

John Loughton, Chair of Scottish Youth Parliament and Big Brother Celebrity Hijack winner, said: "If ever there was a device which highlighted the terrible way in which young people are treated in society then this is it."

The Mosquito, invented by Howard Stapleton of Merthyr Tydfil, reached the market in 2005. It has a range of between 15 and 20 metres, and makers claim teenagers usually move away from the area within eight to 10 minutes. Alternative deterrents include the so-called "Manilow Method", where opera, classical or unfashionable pop music is played.

Mr Stapleton said: "People talk about infringing human rights but what about the human rights of the shopkeeper who is seeing his business collapse because groups of unruly teenagers are driving away his customers?"

Work towards a ban of its use in Scotland has been under way since last year, when Ms Marshall learned that Grampian Police were planning to install a Mosquito device in Banff but eventually decided against it. Renfrewshire Council also tested the device but decided against its permanent use.

Two primary schools in Aberdeenshire - Lochpots School in Fraserburgh and Newburgh Mathers School - installed them to stop children climbing on school roofs, but both devices are believed to have been deactivated.

In Glasgow, a device is active at a Ladbrokes betting shop in Dennistoun, Glasgow. One local youth told the BBC: "It gives you a pain in your ears."

Local resident Anne Moore, 58, said: "The kids are a menace. They come up to my son and bother him. If this machine is chasing them away, then I think it's a good thing."

A Ladbrokes spokesman said: "We installed the Mosquito on police advice. We use it only when deemed appropriate." However, a spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said: "Mosquitos ... are not the way to go. There are other ways of attending to young people and problems in the community."

Author -
Publication The Herald
Date 13 February 2007
Link www.theherald.co.uk