The Mosquito emits a high pitched sound that only young people under the age of 20 can hear. A number of retailers up and down the country have installed the devices in an attempt to disperse gangs of teenagers hanging around outside shops, who may be a deterrent to genuine shoppers.
Around 3,500 devices are believed to be in use around the UK.
There are though questions as to how well the Mosquito in fact works. A recent study by Perpetuity Research (read the full story here ) suggested that not all teenagers were aware of the sound and that a majority didn’t believe it would stop them from congregating in an area.
But Children’s Commissioner Al Aynsley-Green, whose remit is to champion young people’s rights, claims that the devices demonise young people and infringe their human rights.
“I have spoken to many children and young people from all over England who have been deeply affected by ultra-sonic teenage deterrents. These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people including babies regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving,” Aynsley-Green said.
He added: “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. We are sending out the message that we as a society don’t value our children and young people and we don’t respect their rights as outlined in the United National’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti is backing the commissioner’s stance, and said: “What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender, rather than to our kids.”
Simon Morris, the commercial director of Compound Security Systems, which markets the Mosquito, defended the product from the criticism.
Speaking to the BBC, Morris said that the company had taken legal advice before launching the product in 2006, commenting, “We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time, effort and money making sure the device is safe and doesn’t breach anybody’s rights”.
He added that the Mosquito operates at around 85 decibels and claimed it was quieter than most passing traffic.
Morris also claimed that the company has been trying to put together a code of practice for its use to ensure the product is properly licensed and controlled.
