Professor attacks Mosquito device

5:58pm Tuesday 12th February 2008

Comments (8)   Have your say »

A device used to curb antisocial behaviour in trouble hot spots in Abingdon and Didcot has come under fire.

For the past year, a Mosquito device - which sends out an irritating buzz only young people can hear - has been used outside shops in Reynolds Way, Abingdon.

More recently, the device has been installed outside the Co-op in Lostock Place, Didcot, to stop young people hanging around the shop.

But the Children's Commissioner for England, Prof Sir Albert Aynsley-Green, is leading a new campaign calling for the device to be banned.

He claims it infringes the rights of young people.

Sir Albert said: "These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving.

"The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old."

But Sgt Andy Cranidge, who is in charge of Abingdon's neighbourhood team, said the high-pitched noise could not be heard by babies and young children - and pointed out that the device was only turned on at peak times of antisocial behaviour.

He added: "The reason for the importance of any sort of Mosquito is to deal with a problem in that exact location.

"What I look at as well are the rights of the people locally in the area, their right to have a peaceful life, a private life without being infringed.

"The issue with the Mosquito is it is a very specific problem there (Reynolds Way) and that has reduced by 50 per cent - we very rarely go there now as the mosquito has reduced the problem so significantly."

He said that the Mosquito complemented other schemes put in place, such as a dispersal order, which allows police to move on youngsters causing problems.

Natalie Saunders, manager at Martin the Newsagents in Reynolds Way, said she has not noticed the device causing problems for young people.

Andy Cresswell, group general manager for The Midcounties, also defended the device.

He said: "Mosquito units are a useful tool to help retailers disperse groups of young people hanging around outside stores or supermarkets.

"The units are controlled by the store manager and can be switched on when required, especially to avoid other customers feeling intimidated.

"We have a duty to make our staff and customers feel safe and comfortable."