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Brits Tell 'Mosquito' To Buzz Off

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The Associated Press

Published: February 13, 2008

LONDON - England's commissioner for children and a civil liberties group joined in a campaign Tuesday to ban high-frequency devices intended to drive away kids who congregate outside shops and in other areas.

The so-called "Mosquito" device emits high-frequency noise that is audible - and annoying - to young ears, but generally not heard by people older than 20.

"This device is a quick fix that does not tackle the root cause of the problem and it is indiscriminate," English Children's Commissioner Al Aynsley-Green said.

The campaigners claim that about 3,500 of the electronic youth repellents, made by a Welsh company, are in use.

Aynsley-Green said that the devices do not deal with the real problem, which is that children have no place to gather other than on the streets.

"I think it is a powerful symptom of what I call the malaise at the heart of our society," he said.

"I'm very concerned about what I see to be an emerging gap between the young and the old, the fears, the intolerance, even the hatred of the older generation toward the young."
Youth crime is a major concern in Britain; according to the crime prevention charity Nacro, young people are responsible for two-fifths of incidents of theft, burglary, robbery and violence.

Fear of violent youth was underlined this week by the conviction of a 19-year-old man and youths ages 17 and 16 for killing a 47-year-old man who had confronted them about their drunken behavior.

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