Controversy over ear-splitting 'anti-teen' alarms

Mosquito alarm

The use of ear-splitting 'anti-teen' alarms has been defended by Rochdale Council following attacks by civil liberties campaigners.

The council started fitting the Mosquito units two years ago and now has a total of eight. They are used in shopping precincts, parades, a community centre and in the entrances to flats on a housing estate.

The borough was one of the first in England to use the alarms, which emit a sound which is unpleasant to teenagers but inaudible to adults because of the way human hearing changes with age.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England, backed by groups including civil liberties group Liberty, is calling for the Mosquito units to be banned.

Ex Home office lawyer and Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: "What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children?

In March 2007 Ms Chakrabarti was quoted in the Guardian as saying: "Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: 'At worst, the Mosquito is a low-level sonic weapon; at best, a dog-whistle for kids. Either way it has no place in a civilised society that values its children and young people and seeks to imbue them with values of dignity and respect.

"Degrading young people instead of providing opportunities for them is a tragic option whose long-term effect is frightening to imagine.'"

Ben Robertson, a member of the Rochdale Youth Council, has set up a campaign against the use of the devices. However, Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership is committed to its continued use. A spokesman said: "We feel totally justified in deploying Mosquito devices in the borough of Rochdale to give the community respite in cases of acute anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance," she said. "We use the devices when there are large groups of young people making life a problem for residents and businesses, as we are very keen not to let problems of anti-social behaviour escalate.

"We have checked with the company that supplies the mosquito that the devices meet health and safety standards and we have sought legal advice on the deployment."

Members of the Rochdale Online message board are in the main unsympathetic, Jez Parton saying in mock sympathy: "Yes, it's terrible for the poor little innocents isn't it. Where else could they drink, drop all that litter, write all over the walls and shout loudly and coarsely if the device forces them to move away from outside people's houses?"

Parish Priest of St Joseph's Heywood, Father Paul Daly, said: "I would think that Liberty should have more important things to think about than these mosquitoes" and Stuart Cassells added: "If they were from a civilised society, and respected their community there wouldn't be a need."

However, support for a ban came from Matt Baker, Labour Party parliamentary candidate Simon Danczuk's campaign co-ordinator, he said: "I heard on the radio of an autistic child who was badly affected by this. The problem with this device is that it discriminates against all young people and it's absolutely ridiculous to portray all youngsters as feral vermin that should be banned from walking the streets."

Councillor Elwyn Watkins said: "The mosquitoes have been highly effective and highly popular.

"In one instance they were used around old people's bungalows and were only activated in the evenings. Young people simply should not be handing around an area like this, since it causes considerable distress and nuisance.

"In another instance they were successfully used around some shops. A gang of young people used to gather and their mere presence was intimidating to people who lived in the area or who visited the shops. Again the young people moved on.

"Big success on both occasions - where used appropriately they can be very effective."