Support for council plan to ban 'mosquito'

The devices emit a high-pitched noise which can only be heard by people under the age of 25, and make it uncomfortable for young people to congregate nearby.

At a cabinet committee meeting tomorrow, councillors in Sheffield are set to consider refusing to endorse the devices and encouraging other organisations to follow suit.

The Fair Play for Children organisation has now written to councillors asking them to make Sheffield the "first city to take a major stance against what is an odious device based on an odious principle."

Jan Cosgrove, national secretary of Fair Play for Children, said: "No account is taken, no mention made of the use of this device upon the very youngest. The focus of the promotion is on unwanted teens.

"Yet we have complaints from parents of small children about distress. The fact is, a baby or a toddler not yet speaking cannot say what is hurting their ears.

"Problems in the community need to be addressed by adherence of the authorities to the rule of law. Short-cut solutions are no substitute for proper engagement."

Coun Shaffaq Mohammed said that mosquito devices "don't tackle the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour" and added: "If you are under 25, so-called mosquito devices are deeply uncomfortable to listen to.

"Residents living nearby will understandably have little sympathy with young people who are being a nuisance, but what about those who are just going about their normal business?

"The mosquito doesn't discriminate and that's unfair."

The issue will be discussed at tomorrow's cabinet committee meeting, which begins at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm.