Use of 'Mosquito' devices under fire from Europe

EUROPE'S human rights watchdog has slammed controversial "youth dispersal" devices for treating young people like "unwanted birds or pests".

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, made up of MPs from the 47 states of the human rights body, endorsed unanimously growing calls for a ban on all machines designed to deter youngsters from gathering in groups by emitting a powerful high-pitched noise.

This week, the UK Children's Commissioner, Al Aynsley-Green, renewed his campaign for a ban on the "Mosquito" devices designed to be audible to almost everybody age under 20, but few over 25.

More than 3,000 such devices are now in use in the UK.

But Mr Aynsley-Green said they were indiscriminate, targeting all children and young adults, regardless of whether or not they were misbehaving.