Children's chief calls for ban on Mosquito

Published on Tuesday 12 February 2008 12:51

SCOTLAND'S Children's Commissioner today backed a campaign to ban a device which deters young people by emitting a high-pitched sound.

The gadget, known as the Mosquito, exploits youngsters' ability to hear very high frequencies, something which declines once people reach their 20s.

Up to 3500 are estimated to be in use across the UK to disperse children and young people in areas such as parks and shopping centres.

Kathleen Marshall, Commissioner for Children and Young People, joined civil liberties campaigners in condemning the device. The "Buzz Off" campaign was launched today in England by Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, and Ms Marshall agreed the device did not respect children's rights.

She 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 with their friends, 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."

In December, Ms Marshall described the devices as "sinister" and called for them to be withdrawn from sale. Today, she vowed to continue to lobby the Scottish Government, the police, supermarkets and the manufacturers for a ban.

It is not known how many of the devices, which are manufactured by Compound Security Systems, are in use in the Capital. The firm's official outlet in Edinburgh told the News today that it had only sold five in the past two years, three of those to customers in Ireland.

However, a spokesman said that because the devices were available on the internet, it was hard to know just how many were being used in any one area.

John Loughton, from Pilton, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament and recent Big Brother 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. Since when did standing in an area become a crime?"

The Mosquito was invented by Howard Stapleton, from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. Mr Stapleton said a test case in the courts might be the only way of establishing the Mosquito's legality.

Rob Gough, who was the first to test out the device at the Spar shop he runs in Barry, South Wales, said he would defy any ban.

Mr Gough, who has been using the Mosquito for more than two years, said: "It's been a great success for me."