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Ban discriminatory 'mosquito' devices
June 28, 2010 7:00 PM
The parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe last Friday adopted a resolution calling for a Europe-wide ban on anti-youth 'mosquito' devices.
A 'mosquito' acoustic device emits a powerful high-pitched sound that is inaudible to anyone over 25 but unbearable for many children and young people under the age of 20. Their use, for instance by shops, is quite widespread, to disperse youngsters allegedly causing a nuisance. The Children's Commissioner for England has called for them to be outlawed.
Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford, who already in 2008 put forward a European Parliament declaration calling for mosquitos to be banned, said:
"I strongly welcome this call for a ban on these appalling devices, and I urge the new government here in the UK to act on this advice as soon as possible. They are discriminatory in only affecting young people, many of whom will have done absolutely nothing wrong. They are also likely to be as counter-productive as ASBOs in creating a defiant refusal by errant youngsters to address any genuinely offending behaviour."
"The latest of these £500 machines, 3,500 of which are already in use across the UK, have a range of 40m and prejudice rights to freedom of assembly. The sound may constitute illegal degrading treatment because of the 'acoustic pain' they cause young people."
"Children and young people are our future; they should not be treated like unwanted vermin. Of course there is a minority of kids who cause trouble but demonising everyone under 25 is not the right or lawful solution."
Notes to Editors
1. The Council of Europe - nothing to do with the EU - is an organisation of 46 states founded 50 years ago whose chief focus in the European Convention of Human Rights. Its parliamentary assembly is composed of national MPs (or senators/UK peers) from all those countries including the UK.
2. Sarah Ludford's 2008 European Parliament written declaration (similar to a Westminster Early Day Motion) on mosquito devices can be found here.
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