Bersted councillors shelve Mosquito proposals

Proposals to look at a device which targets teenagers with a high-pitched noise have been shelved by Bersted councillors.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th May 2008, 13:09 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:01 BST

The Mosquito equipment emits a sound which can only be picked up by the ears of younger people.

It is intended to disrupt their gatherings by making it unpleasant for them to stay in the affected area for too long.

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The prospect of a Mosquito being considered for the Jubilee Hall was raised by parish council vice-chairman Cllr Brian Green.

He said he had been approached by residents angry at the regular rowdy Friday night gatherings by youngsters in the nearby children's play area close to Winston Crescent.

"They have a limitless supply of lager in cans and bottles and they stay until 1am. They get smashed out of their minds and smash their bottles over the playground."

He said a Mosquito had been installed by Sussex Police along Durban Road to cut vandalism.

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This had been withdrawn, but he claimed five companies on the industrial estate had installed their own devices.

"I am not proposing that we buy a Mosquito, but that we should consider it," he stated. One could be bought for 445 with a timer to control when the sound was produced.

But councillors shied away from considering the device. Cllr Patrick Hastings said: "I don't consider this a good idea."

Cllr Martin Lury said the noise did not discriminate between young people who could be causing problems and those trying to sleep in a nearby house.

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Cllr Simon McDougall added: "We don't know what a Mosquito does to a certain age group's ears and we don't know how failsafe the timer is."

Instead, councillors decided to write to the police to request that the no-alcohol zone within which the play area is sited is enforced.

They have also asked the police to look at tackling the supply of alcohol to under-age drinkers.

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