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Youth deterrent device 'an infringement of rights'

10/07/2007

An anti-social behaviour deterrent in Norden, Rochdale is in breach of teenagers' human rights regulations, according to one campaigner.

The boxes, which emit an irritating high-pitched pulsating noise that is only audible to youths, are designed to deter gangs from hanging around certain areas, such as care homes.

But Ben Robertson, a 19 year old, claims the Mosquito devices are an infringement of human rights, reports the BBC.

"We should look at ways to integrate teenagers more, look at alternatives of solving the problem of anti-social behaviour.

"We are being discriminated because of our age. These boxes are put up in areas that are public and therefore it's a breach of civil liberty."

Although Mr Robertson said he could no longer hear the noise, he is adamant that such devices need to be regulated, especially as the public can buy them from internet sites.

The Mosquito, patented and tested by the National Physics Laboratory, is barely audible to anyone over 20 because as people get older, they suffer progressive hearing loss due to structural changes in the ear and noisy environments.


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