A newspaper report today states that police are planning to install a high-pitched "Mosquito" device at a Cornish seaside resort in the hope it will deter unruly gangs of public school children from holding rowdy beach parties.
Pupils from many of Britain's top independent schools go to Polzeath every summer to celebrate the end of their exams, but in recent years the behaviour of some has upset residents.
Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused to homes and businesses with locals complaining of littering, fighting, vandalism and binge drinking. The pupils have come to be known as "snob-yobs" because of their antics.
Now officers have decided to put up two Mosquito devices which release an irritating noise that can only be heard by young people, in the hope it will prevent them from gathering in large groups.
Sergeant Robin Moorcroft, from Devon and Cornwall police, said: "It takes about eight to ten seconds for the sound to be heard by the human ear so if people are walking past it will not bother them but, if youths start to congregate in the area it will soon start to annoy them enough to move on.
"Last year many of these youngsters were drinking and hanging around on the green opposite the beach.
"By using the mosquitoes we hope it will move them on so that they wouldn't cause a nuisance."
(Telegraph)
However, another newspaper reports:
COUNCIL BANS ANTI-YOB MOSQUITO BUZZER 'TO PROTECT CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS'
Amid concerns that the Mosquito infringes children's human rights, Kent County Council said it is one of the first authorities in the country to prohibit the gadget in its buildings.
An estimated 3,500 of the devices - which emit a high-pitched sound - are in use throughout England in shopping centres, parks and shops since their introduction in January 2006.
The sound causes discomfort to young ears, although over-25s cannot hear it.
The Association of Convenience Stores, which represents 33,000 local shops, has said the Mosquito can be useful in tackling anti-social behaviour.
At a Spar store in South Wales, like birds perched on telephone wires, surly teenagers used to plant themselves on the railings just outside the door, smoking, drinking, shouting rude words at customers and making regular disruptive forays inside.
"When a mosquito buzzer was installed the results were almost instantaneous. It was as if someone had used anti-teenager spray around the entrance, the way you might spray your sofas to keep pets off. Where disaffected youths used to congregate, now there is no one."
But critics claim that it demonises young people and they now plan to lobby for a nationwide ban.
Community services Cabinet member Mike Hill said: 'These devices are abhorrent and give completely the wrong message to our young people.'
Its interesting though that teenagers have turned the technology against their adult oppressors, with a mosquito ringtone that lets them use their mobile phones in schools without their teachers hearing it.
(London Evening Standard)
Bring back the draft in both UK and USA. Give the boys their pride back.