A Fife-wide ban on controversial devices which aim to deter young people from loitering in certain areas is to be considered by councillors this week.
Fife Council’s education and children’s services spokeswoman Councillor Fay Sinclair is calling on the local authority to prohibit the use of anti-loitering ‘mosquito’ systems on council-owned land or property – suggesting they cause distress and “unjust” harm to young people.
The devices, which emit a high-pitch noise designed to be heard only by those under the age of 25, have previously been thought of as an effective tactic in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
But Ms Sinclair has tabled a motion to Thursday’s full Fife Council meeting urging colleagues to back an outright ban, pointing out that the machines can induce nausea, dizziness and pain as well as affecting a child’s sense of balance.
“I’m tabling a motion at this week’s full council meeting to ban ‘mosquito devices’ in Fife because these devices are unjust and can cause considerable distress to all young people, who are treated as a nuisance, regardless of their behaviour,” she said.
“These devices are designed to prevent anti-social behaviour, but they are indiscriminate and have negative effects on all those who can hear the irritating and often unbearable noise they emit, particularly babies and people with autism.”
As education convener, Ms Sinclair said she had been particularly shocked that the devices had previously been installed at two schools in Fife and had been programmed to operate continuously outwith school hours.
She added: “The devices at Benarty Primary School and Glenrothes High School have now been removed and I have also called for the removal of the device at Dunfermline Bus Station, which I have been told will be done.
“Banning these devices would ensure the protection of young people’s human rights, health and engagement within the community.”
The Scottish Youth Parliament is campaigning for a national ban on the devices and this week’s motion has been supported by North East Fife MSYP Kit McCarthy.
“Human rights are unconditional,” he said.
“Mosquito devices are not only a grave violation of young people’s rights, but are an absurd way of tackling anti-social behaviour that serve only to cause resentment and tension.”
The Scottish Government has said it is “not unsympathetic” to a ban on mosquito devices, but stressed that there are no reliable figures on how widespread or otherwise their use is in Scotland.
Community safety and legal affairs minister Annabelle Ewing said any legislation banning the devices would have to be “justified as a proportionate response”.
What are they and why the controversy?
The mosquito, or mosquito alarm, is an electronic device which has been marketed as a safety and security tool designed to stop youths from congregating in specific areas.
It works by emitting sound at a high frequency which can typically only be heard by people under the age of 25, utilising the fact that a person’s ability to hear high frequencies normally deteriorates over time.
It was invented by former British Aerospace engineer Howard Stapleton in 2005 after his then 17-year-old daughter was harassed by a group of youngsters when she went to buy milk.
Having been irritated by a factory noise when he was a child, he used that idea to determine the frequency at which the device could be set to prevent people loitering in certain areas.
Critics have claimed the devices infringe people’s human rights, but advocates say they have proved effective in driving groups of unruly youths away from certain hotspots.
The devices caused controversy earlier this year when ScotRail installed one at Hamilton Central Station following anti-social behaviour there.
It followed protests by the RMT union, who said staff were scared following a surge in violent incidents at the railway station.
